Trump talks safe zones in Syria with King Abdullah of Jordan
President Trump discussed the possibility of establishing safe zones in Syria with King Abdullah II of Jordan, according to a White House statement about the meeting.
Mr. Trump met with the Jordanian leader Thursday morning at the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.
According to a White House readout of the meeting, Mr. Trump said the U.S. was committed to Jordan’s “stability, security, and prosperity” and thanked the king for his leadership in the Middle East.
Mr. Trump noted Jordan’s contributions to the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the two talked about the possibility of creating safe zones in Syria.
The president has previously called for plans to create safe zones in and around Syria to protect those seeking refuge from the country’s civil war. During his signing of an executive order at the Department of Homeland Security last week, he said he would call on the Pentagon and the State Department to draft up a plan for Syrian safe zones. (The final draft of the executive order he signed that day did not include this language.)
Mr. Trump has already received some backlash from Russia for his plans when it comes to safe zones. On Thursday, the Kremlin warned that any U.S. hopes for safe zones should be thoroughly considered.
The world leaders also discussed the king’s possible return to Washington for an official visit in the future.