Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Jordan in the next few days to discuss Syria, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi said.
The visit comes as the kingdom deals with a major security threat on its border with areas controlled by the government of President Bashar Al Assad.
Mr Al Safadi, who is in Algeria for an Arab League Summit, told Sky News Arabia on Monday that the visit by Mr Lavrov will focus on “the Syria file”.
Jordan said the Syrian military and pro-Iranian militias are linked to drug traffic from southern Syria to Jordan and pose a national security threat to the kingdom.
In 2018, Syrian government forces captured most of the area on the Syrian side from rebel brigades after a deal between Russia, the US and Israel that was supposed to guarantee Jordan's border security.
Security officials in the region said the drug-smuggling, particularly the stimulant pills known as Captagon, increased sharply in the past four years, as the cost of production in Syria fell and as pro-Iranian militias linked with the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah expanded in areas near the border with Jordan.
Last year, Russia brokered a rapprochement between Jordan and Syria. It culminated in a phone call in October 2021 between King Abdullah and Mr Al Assad, during which diplomats in Amman said the king raised the drug-smuggling issue.
Russia is the most powerful backer of the government in Damascus. Its intervention in 2015 turned the tide of the Syrian conflict in favour of Mr Al Assad.
Jordan, an ally of the US, tacitly supported the Russian intervention and has since strengthened its security and other contacts with Moscow.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eamana%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Farra%20and%20Ziad%20Aboujeb%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERegulator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDFSA%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinancial%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E85%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf-funded%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
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