Jordan, Saudi Arabia vow to face fallout of Arab revolts

Jul 3, 2011, 18:10 GMT

Amman - The kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia agreed on Sunday to close ranks when facing the 'challenges' arising from the ongoing wave of Arab uprisings.

During talks in Jeddah, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Saudi King Abdullah discussed the 'latest Arab and regional developments and the political situation through which a number of Arab countries are passing,' according to a joint statement.

The Jordanian head of state and the Saudi king expressed 'keenness on continuing consultations and coordination with a view to preserving security and stability in the region and boosting joint Arab action vis-a-vis various challenges,' said a statement published by the Petra news agency.

The Saudi monarch pledged that his country 'will stand with all its potential by Jordan to enable it to face all challenges out of the belief that what affects one country reflects on the other.'

Jordan, which borders Saudi Arabia, has in recent months witnessed pro-democracy demonstrations inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

The leaders' statement also alluded to ongoing unrest in Yemen, Syria, Libya and Bahrain, where Saudi Arabian troops were dispatched earlier this year to help quash anti-government protests.

Also high on the agenda of Sunday's talks was a Saudi proposal for the admission of cash-strapped Jordan to the oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council.

During the visit, King Abdullah thanked Saudi Arabia for providing economic aid, including a new 400-million-dollar grant that the Amman government says will be used to reduce its ballooning budget deficit.

Read more about Saudi