A Billion here, a Billion there.
President Obama pledged $1 billion in loan guarantees for Jordan, a U.S. Middle East ally that is dealing with a flood of Syrian refugees who have fled across the border.
The president made the loan guarantee commitment during a meeting Friday evening with Jordan’s King Abdullah at Sunnylands, the Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Obama also extended an aid package for the country for five years.
With a population of 6.5 million people, Jordan, which shares a border with Syria, has been forced to deal with 600,000 refugees that have fled the deadly violence. The influx of people have strained public services and the nation’s economy.
Jordan is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East with the U.S. already providing $1 billion annually. Sandwiched between Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Israel, Jordan has played a direct role in Middle East peace negotiations and is a strong advocate of free trade between the U.S. and the Arab world.
Most of the conversations between Obama and Abdullah Friday occurred behind closed doors, although they gave brief remarks in front of reporters at the start of the meeting.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome my good friend,” Obama said. “It’s wonderful to be able to host him here at the beautiful Sunnylands. This gives me an opportunity to have an extensive consultation with his majesty.”
Obama also made a point of showering praise on Abdullah’s continued support and close ties to the U.S.