King Abdullah II met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington on Tuesday to reaffirm relations between the two countries and bolster Middle East security efforts.

The talks covered regional and international developments, focusing in particular on efforts to secure peace between Israel and Palestine, Petra news agency reported.

The King reiterated the importance of the US role in Middle East peace talks.

The King and foreign secretary also discussed developments in Syria and Iraq, in addition to the global fight against terrorism.

King Abdullah II also met with the United States Senate leadership and key lawmakers to discuss economic and military ties.

The King voiced his appreciation for the US Congress’ role in supporting Jordan’s economic resilience as it shoulders the burden of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Commenting on the Syrian crisis, His Majesty said the agreement between Jordan, the United States, and Russia to secure a ceasefire in southern Syria and establish a de-escalation zone will help create an environment conducive to reaching a political solution through the Geneva process.