Hasan Dajah

The Aqaba Process embodies a royal vision for global peace in a world where security threats transcend national borders. Launched by His Majesty King Abdullah in 2015, this Jordanian initiative recognizes that confronting terrorism and extremism requires sustained international partnerships rooted in prevention, coordination, and capacity building. Originating in Aqaba, it has evolved into a platform connecting political leaders, security officials, and experts across regions. Through cooperation and the exchange of information and expertise, the process reflects Jordan’s commitment to building trust, strengthening collective security, and advancing a shared responsibility for lasting peace and stability.

It has since expanded to bring together political, military, and security leaders, as well as experts from various regions, paving the way for approaches that account for the unique characteristics of different societies and the complex, intertwined nature of modern challenges. Through the King’s persistent efforts, this initiative has elevated the name of a Jordanian city onto the global stage, establishing the Kingdom as an active partner in shaping responses to shared challenges. It has served to build bridges of trust between nations and to cement the concept of security as a collective responsibility-one that integrates the protection of individuals with the preservation of societal stability.

The significance of this track lies in its recognition of the intrinsic link between the security of states and the stability of societies. Terrorist organizations exploit conflicts, institutional weaknesses, and technological advancements, allowing their ideologies and networks to move across borders. Consequently, these royal efforts can be understood as an endeavor to construct a comprehensive response that synthesizes field-level knowledge, political will, and institutional coordination. This approach offers participating nations and opportunity to understand one another’s experiences, identify gaps, and develop preventive and counter-measures tailored to the specific nature of threats in each region.

The geographical reach of these meetings reflects the breadth of international interest in the initiative. In partnership with Jordan, various countries-spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas-have hosted these sessions. These include Spain, Albania, Italy, Bulgaria, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom; Indonesia and Singapore; Rwanda and Nigeria; as well as Brazil and the United States, in addition to the United Nations. The initiative’s rounds have focused on East Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Balkans, and West Africa and the Sahel-underscoring its capacity to bridge expertise across distant regions that share interconnected challenges.

In Europe, the Spanish city of Córdoba provided a clear example of this interconnectedness when His Majesty the King and King Felipe VI co-chaired a round of meetings in June 2023, which focused on West Africa and the Sahel. The discussions addressed terrorist threats, the coordination of initiatives, and countering hate speech on social media. This particular session holds strategic significance: a European city hosted a dialogue on the security of an African region-a practical embodiment of the principle that preventing terrorism is a shared responsibility that extends well beyond one’s immediate neighborhood.

In the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, His Majesty and the Bulgarian President co-chaired a new round of discussions in April 2025. Focused on the Balkans, the session addressed terrorism, violent extremism, online polarization, and issues related to irregular migration. Later that year, in October, Rome hosted a round co-chaired by His Majesty and the Italian Prime Minister, which centered on West Africa and the intensification of international coordination to counter terrorism and extremist ideology. This diversity demonstrates the initiative’s capacity to bridge the specific needs of individual regions with the broader requirement for wider cooperation.

The preventive dimension of the initiative also extends to interfaith dialogue and the protection of social cohesion. In December 2025, the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ-peace be upon him—hosted a session organized by Jordan and Albania. Featuring Muslim and Christian religious leaders, the discussions focused on the Balkans, emphasizing shared values and mutual respect. Holding this event at the Baptism Site conveys a profound civilizational message: building peace requires safeguarding trust among people, upholding the values of coexistence, and drying up the sources of hatred that extremists exploit.

From this perspective, countering extremist ideology necessitates a sound, moderate, and centrist approach-one capable of dismantling distorted interpretations and fortifying the consciousness of young people. In this context, the responsibilities of educational, religious, cultural, and media institutions complement security efforts; for protecting society entails preventing polarization, fostering critical thinking, and embedding respect for differences. The multilateral nature of this track provides a space for exchanging expertise in these areas, linking security responses to the foundations of long-term societal stability.

The initiative also keeps pace with the technological shifts that are reshaping the security landscape. In February 2026, His Majesty the King-accompanied by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince-presided over a session at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, which addressed airspace management and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Discussions included the exchange of expertise, the development of systems, and the modernization of relevant legal frameworks-illustrating the breadth of the track’s agenda, which encompasses challenges that require cooperation among governments, experts, and specialized firms.

In September 2026, in Paris, His Majesty the King presided over a session alongside the Presidents of France and Lebanon, focusing on supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, strengthening their capacity to protect Lebanon’s security and sovereignty, and ensuring that the possession of arms remains exclusively in the hands of the state. This engagement highlights the connection between countering sources of instability and supporting national institutions—enabling them to fulfill their responsibilities while coordinating international assistance in line with actual needs.

The Astana round, held on November 6, 2026, introduced an Asian and advanced technological dimension. Co-chaired by His Majesty the King and the President of Kazakhstan, the session focused on security in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). It explored the application of AI technologies in combating terrorism and extremism, while fostering cooperation and the exchange of expertise. With the participation of Central Asian nations, Azerbaijan, and specialized firms, the discussions highlighted a proactive approach toward anticipating threats and developing tools to address them.

The rotation of the Aqaba Process meetings across these various capitals and cities reflects the capacity of the King’s diplomacy to bring together a diverse range of partners around shared security and humanitarian interests. The practical value of this endeavor lies in the continuity of coordination, capacity building, and the transformation of shared knowledge into actionable measures. From Aqaba to Córdoba, Sofia, Rome, Paris, and Astana, Jordan presents a model of a nation that leverages its relationships and experience to promote stability-underscoring His Majesty’s conviction that safeguarding peace is a responsibility that demands perseverance, partnership, and foresight.