Jordan and Spain add a Strategic Partnership to their historical ties

Raghad Al Saqqa celebrated 80th anniversary of Hashemite Kingdom's independence with a reception in which she emphasized the ties that bind her country to Spain

Jordan’s ambassador, Raghad A. Al Saqqa, was very excited about the large guest attendance at the reception. /Photos: JDL

Jordan’s ambassador, Raghad A. Al Saqqa, was very excited about the large guest attendance at the reception. /Photos: JDL

During the reception held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Jordan’s independence, Ambassador Raghad Al Saqqa highlighted the bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite her country with Spain, both through their respective royal families and through their people, who have maintained strong economic and tourism ties for decades.

After emphasizing the importance that the friendship of the respective royal families has had for this bilateral relationship, the ambassador assured that the Spanish-Jordanian ties have continued to grow in all areas, “culminating in the establishment of our Strategic Partnership in 2025, which gives us a real framework for practical cooperation in politics, economy, culture, defense, and development between our countries.”

The team from the Embassy of Jordan, led by their ambassador, welcomed the guests.

“Jordan and Spain are also united by the bond of a common cultural heritage,” said the ambassador, who cited the twinning of two emblematic monuments —the Nabatean city of Petra and the Alhambra of Granada— as an example of these cultural ties between both countries.

Also, “from Galicia we have another significant connection,” added Raghad Al Saqqa, referring to the Camino de Egeria, the pilgrimage route to the Holy Land of Egeria, a nun who lived in the 4th century and who also establishes a connection with the Camino de Santiago. “This adds,” said the representative of the Hashemite Kingdom, “a spiritual and human connection to our relationship.”

Welcome to the Chargé d’Affaires, .i., of the Embassy of Tunisia, Nadia Barhoumi.

The ambassador noted that in Jordan, tourism is much more than an entertainment industry. “It is a journey into history in many of its facets, including the religious,” she said and welcomed all those Spaniards who are encouraged to experience the hospitality of her country.

From left to right, the Arab ambassadors of Kuwait, Zeiad I. Al Anbaie; of Oman, Thamir bin Faiz Al-Alawi; of Algeria, Abdelfetá Daghmun; of Jordan, Raghad A. Al Saqqa, and of Syria, Abdullha Hallak.

In addition to tourism, the ambassador emphasized that the Jordanian government welcomes Spanish companies wishing to invest in the country’s economy and listed the sectors of interest, such as energy, water, and technology, among others.

A large number of ambassadors from the Arab World attended the reception, including those from Egypt, Arab League, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Palestine, Kuwait and Oman, along with colleagues from countries such as Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Ireland or Cyprus, among others, also accompanied by representatives from other embassies, such as Serbia, Italy, Tunisia, China, United States, Nepal, Japan and Iraq, among others.

The Economic Affairs Attaché of the U.S. Embassy, Isabella Siegle, alongside the consul, Baigeng Fu (to the left), and the minister Qu Xun, from China.
The Jordanian host in the center, alongside the ambassador of Bosnia, Vesna Andree-Zaimovic, and her counterpart from Australia, Rosemary Morris-Castico (right).
The ambassadors of Palestine, Husni Abdelwahed (to the left), alongside his Irish counterpart, Brian Glynn.
The ambassador of Ukraine, Yulia Sokolovska, to the left, alongside the deputy director and programming coordinator of Casa Árabe, Cristina Juarranz.
A heartfelt photo of Pasquale Attolico, advisor and head of Press at the Embassy of Italy, alongside his wife and two children.
The reception had a large number of attendees who listened attentively in silence to the words of the Jordanian ambassador.