U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is in Jordan, where he and his wife, Karen, are scheduled to have lunch with King Abdullah and Queen Rania.
Jordan is the second stop on the vice president’s four-day Middle Eastern tour. Later Sunday, Pence travels to Israel.
In Cairo Saturday, the vice president pledged the U.S. would continue to support Egypt in its battle against terrorism.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with you,” Pence said after meetings with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to discuss terrorism and security issues.
Egypt is grappling with serious security problems, including attacks by Islamic State in the North Sinai area. Sisi said the two men discussed ways to rid the country of the “disease and cancer” of terrorism.
Pence’s visit to Egypt was the highest-level visit by a U.S. official to the region since President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December.
Pence, a conservative Christian, helped push for the recognition of Jerusalem, a decision that was well-received by evangelical Christians in the U.S. He and Sisi did not discuss the issue during their remarks in front of reporters.
The trip was originally planned for December, but was delayed because of Pence’s involvement in the year-end tax overhaul negotiations and in the aftermath of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to meet with him in Bethlehem.
Abbas has denounced President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which prompted Palestinians to reject the U.S. as a broker for peace in the region. The decision sparked deadly protests in Palestinian territories that have since subsided and drew condemnation from world leaders. Trump’s announcement was followed by a so-called day of rage, with demonstrations against Trump’s decision spanning the globe.
Pence is not expected to meet with Palestinian leaders.
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