Joint Leaders' Statement On Enhanced Cooperation

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan met in Canberra on 14 October 2026 and reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Australia and Jordan built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity.

Leaders welcomed the opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda for strengthened cooperation, building on the 2016 Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation, and reflecting the growing breadth of the bilateral relationship.

Strengthening bilateral cooperation

1. Leaders reaffirmed the strong and enduring Defence partnership between Australia and Jordan, built on decades of cooperation and underpinned by the Australia-Jordan Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. They welcomed continued strengthening of Defence ties and expressed their commitment to maintaining regular engagement through strategic dialogue, education and training, professional military exchanges, and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
2. The two sides reinforced the value of practical Defence cooperation in strengthening mutual understanding, enhancing operational effectiveness, and supporting the professional development of their armed forces. They welcomed continued engagement in areas of shared interest, including science and technology, accelerated capability development, Defence industry cooperation, joint operations, peacekeeping and trans-national counter-terrorism. They also acknowledged the importance of Defence cooperation in supporting regional stability, including through operational collaboration where appropriate.
3. Leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations. Australia and Jordan have a strong history of border management cooperation, driven by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the Jordanian relevant authorities. Building on longstanding counter-terrorism, intelligence and law enforcement ties, they agreed to strengthen information sharing and operational coordination between relevant agencies to prevent and disrupt terrorist activity, financing and recruitment.
4. They acknowledged the contribution that stronger trade and investment links can make to supporting jobs, prosperity and economic resilience in both countries. They committed to working collaboratively with private sectors to encourage closer business-to-business ties and identify mutual opportunities, including in the resources sector. Leaders welcomed the opportunities available through deeper education, research and institutional partnerships that build future-ready skills and support innovation and inclusive economic growth.
5. Leaders reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation to address climate change and strengthen resilience to its impacts. They agreed to explore deeper cooperation on water security, drought preparedness, data-informed resource management, and coral reef management. They encouraged collaboration on sustainable agriculture and food security, including technologies and practices suited to arid and water-constrained environments.
6. The two sides acknowledged the importance of mental health and psychological wellbeing in supporting resilient communities. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Mental Health Cooperation, which will strengthen information sharing and collaboration on trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support.
7. Leaders welcomed opportunities to expand cultural, professional and youth exchanges and to deepen connections between communities and institutions. They recognised the valuable contribution of the Jordanian-Australian community to Australia's multicultural society and to the friendship between the two countries.

At the regional and international levels

8. His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and the Prime Minister of Australia discussed the situation in the Middle East. They expressed concern over the continued tensions in the region and stressed the need for all relevant actors to work collectively towards de-escalation, emphasising diplomacy and dialogue as the means to achieve this objective.
9. Australia condemned in the strongest terms Iranian attacks targeting Jordan and expressed its solidarity with the Kingdom. The two countries reaffirmed their support for all efforts aimed at reaching a diplomatic solution that would end the crisis, address its root causes, and achieve sustainable security and stability.
10. Leaders underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and their strong support for unimpeded trade in the region and other lawful uses of the sea consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
11. Australia recognized Jordan's important contribution to regional peace, security and stability. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, as the only path to achieving just and lasting peace. Leaders emphasized their rejection of any attempts to annex the West Bank or displace the Palestinian people, and reiterated their condemnation of the illegal 'E1' settlement project, emphasizing it constitutes a violation of international law.
12. The two sides reaffirmed the need to preserve the existing historical and legal status quo of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Australia stressed the importance of the historical Hashemite Custodianship over these holy sites.
13. Leaders emphasized the importance of implementing the Gaza Peace Plan in full, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), protecting civilians consistent with international law, and the full, safe, rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
14. Leaders also underscored the importance of supporting UNRWA and enabling it to carry out its UN mandate.
15. Australia reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to supporting Jordan's humanitarian and refugee response, including to the situations in Syria and Gaza. This has included partnerships with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, UNHCR, Jordan's Ministry of Education and other relevant Jordanian institutions.
16. Leaders recognised Jordan's sustained contribution as a host of refugees and as a regional hub for humanitarian assistance and acknowledged the significant pressures this places on public services, infrastructure and host communities. They called for continued and predictable international support for refugees and the countries and communities that host them, and reaffirmed the importance of durable solutions, consistent with international law.
17. Leaders affirmed their countries' support for Syria's unity, security, stability and sovereignty, and for the Syrian Government's efforts to rebuild the country on foundations that meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and uphold the rights of all its constituent groups.
18. Leaders reaffirmed Australia's and Jordan's support for Lebanon's efforts to ensure its security, strengthen its sovereignty over all its territory, and ensure that arms remain exclusively in the hands of the state, as well as the need for all parties to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
19. The two sides condemned the Houthi militia's attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly on civilians and civilian infrastructure. They emphasised their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. They reaffirmed their support for Yemen's legitimate government and efforts to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement that preserves Yemen's unity, sovereignty, and stability.
20. They reaffirmed their support for a rules-based international order, underpinned by international law including the United Nations Charter. They underscored the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and international cooperation in addressing shared security challenges and advancing a just and enduring peace, security and stability in the Middle East, where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.
21. Australia welcomed His Majesty's leadership in promoting international cooperation against terrorism, including through the Aqaba Process. His Majesty welcomed Australia's interest in organising an Aqaba Process meeting in 2027 focused on countering online extremism and the misuse of emerging technologies.
22. Leaders reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to upholding international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. They welcomed the leading roles played by Jordan and Australia in strengthening respect for international humanitarian law, including through the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. Australia welcomed Jordan's leadership in advancing the Global Initiative and its convening of the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War on 7 December 2026.