German President Steinmeier praises Jordan as 'anchor of stability'

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday praised Jordan's mediating role in the Middle East as he visited Amman for talks with King Abdullah II.

The two leaders know each other well, with Steinmeier having last travelled to Jordan almost exactly a year ago, while Abdullah paid a return visit to Berlin a few weeks later. 

"Jordan has always been a country that has played the role of an anchor of stability in the region," said Steinmeier.

Germany also acknowledges Jordan's solidarity with refugees, the German president said, calling the country an "example for the world" as he visited a registration centre for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Amman.

According to the UNHCR, Jordan is one of the countries with the largest number of refugees worldwide. 

Around a third of the population of approximately 11.5 million people are refugees, said Maria Stavropoulou, UNHCR representative in Jordan. She thanked Germany for taking in refugees itself and supporting other host countries.

Germany has significantly reduced its financial support for the UNHCR in Jordan, dropping from $50 million in 2022 to $10 million last year.

Steinmeier's visit to Amman was the last stop on his three-day visit to the Middle East after two days of talks in Lebanon. In the evening, Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender will fly back to Berlin.