In a historic diplomatic milestone marking 75 years of bilateral ties, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi concluded a high-profile visit to Jordan on Tuesday, leaving behind a blueprint for a modernised strategic partnership. The visit, characterised by a unique personal rapport between leaders, saw Jordan’s Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II personally driving PM Modi to the Jordan Museum, a gesture the Prime Minister described on social media as a reflection of the “deep-rooted friendship” between the two nations.
The cornerstone of the visit was a high-level meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II at the Husseiniya Palace. Amid shifting regional dynamics, both leaders issued a stern, unified warning against global instability.
“We share a common and clear stance against terrorism,” PM Modi stated during delegation-level talks. “Under your leadership, Jordan has sent a strong and strategic message to all of humanity against terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation.”
King Abdullah II reciprocated the sentiment, praising India’s role as a stabilising force. He remarked, “Your presence here carries deep significance… I believe this visit reflects decades of friendship, mutual respect, and productive cooperation between our two nations.”
On the economic front, the Prime Minister set an ambitious target to scale bilateral trade from the current $2.8 billion to $5 billion over the next five years. Central to this expansion is the proposed integration of Jordan’s digital payment systems with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a move aimed at streamlining business and tourism.
The two countries finalised five pivotal agreements, including:
Renewable Energy: A pact on technical cooperation for clean growth and energy security.
Heritage Twinning: A symbolic and practical “twinning” of the world heritage sites of Petra and Ellora to boost tourism and conservation.
Water Management: Sharing best practices to ensure long-term water security.
Digital Transformation: A Letter of Intent to share India’s population-scale digital solutions.Beyond policy, the visit celebrated civilisational links.
Addressing the India-Jordan Business Forum, PM Modi noted that the twinning of Petra and Ellora would “open new avenues for heritage conservation and academic exchanges.”
As the Prime Minister concluded his stay and departed for Ethiopia, the visit was hailed as a successful recalibration of India’s engagement with the Middle East, blending strategic security interests with a forward-looking technological and cultural agenda.
