CNN
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As with many of President Donald Trump’s recent discussions, his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday focused on pursuing a deal, at least from Trump’s perspective.

Shortly after unveiling a bold initiative to take control of the Gaza Strip and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” Trump seems determined to negotiate this ambitious vision into a tangible outcome.

“I’m discussing the initiation of construction,” Trump remarked over the weekend, “and I believe I can forge an agreement with Jordan and Egypt.”

The envisioned deal reportedly requires Jordan and Egypt to accept millions of new Palestinian refugees, despite their persistent objections, enabling Trump to clear the debris from the devastated Gaza Strip, erect modern towers with Mediterranean views, and invite citizens from around the globe to resettle.

Trump is leveraging the significant financial aid the United States provides to Egypt and Jordan, which without such support could face severe economic challenges.

“Yeah, perhaps, why not?” Trump responded in the Oval Office on Monday evening when asked if he would consider cutting American aid to Jordan and Egypt. “If they refuse, I could feasibly withhold aid, yes.”

Nonetheless, both Cairo and Amman have their own sources of leverage: Their security policies are closely aligned with Washington, and they have historically played crucial roles in safeguarding Israel, as demonstrated last year when Jordan helped intercept a series of Iranian missiles directed at Israel. Some U.S. officials express concern that pressuring these nations to accept new Palestinian refugees could potentially destabilize two of America’s reliable security allies.

“I do believe he will consider it, and I think other countries will too,” Trump stated the day before meeting with Abdullah. “They have generous spirits.”

The pivotal question for Abdullah, along with the visiting Egyptian officials in Washington this week, is whether Trump’s expansive proposal for the crisis-hit region is a serious proposition or just a starting point for an alternative plan aimed at fostering peace and stability.

Some officials within Trump’s administration have hinted that the proposal might be more of a negotiation strategy, even while affirming that the president is not backing down from his bold idea.

“If you don’t agree with his proposal, come forward with your own,” Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz suggested during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, indicating that the White House is open to various suggestions following Trump’s remarks.

Fundamentally, U.S. officials stated, Trump’s concept aims to stimulate progress on an issue he sees as stagnant, particularly since no other nations have provided reasonable plans for rebuilding a territory that has been devastated by Israeli airstrikes following Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.

However, it remains uncertain whether Trump differentiates between a serious proposition and a bargaining tactic. His statements about the Gaza initiative over the past week indicate a genuine approach, even if some senior officials have alluded to other interpretations.

In the days leading up to Abdullah’s visit, Trump made no effort to soften what has raised significant concerns in the region: that Palestinians who exit Gaza in accordance with his plan would not be allowed to return.

“No, they wouldn’t,” Trump affirmed in a Fox News interview when asked about the possibility of Palestinians returning to Gaza. “Because they will have far superior living conditions. Essentially, I mean to build them a permanent home.”

Trump Pressures Jordan and Egypt

Thus far, Trump appears committed to locating that “permanent place” in Jordan and Egypt, even though leaders from both countries quickly dismissed the proposal last week.

Egypt, wary of a potential influx of Palestinians destabilizing its Sinai Peninsula, announced on Sunday that it would hold an “emergency” Arab League summit in Cairo on February 28 to address “new and serious developments” concerning the Palestinian situation.

In Jordan, where a significant portion of the population has Palestinian heritage, the discussion holds particular weight. The nation has previously welcomed numerous waves of Palestinian refugees, beginning in 1948, coinciding with the creation of Israel.

A violent conflict known as “Black September” occurred in 1970, when armed Palestinian groups attempted to take control of Jordan, a traumatic episode that lingers in the collective memory, particularly for the current king, given the precarious demographic balance between the Palestinian population and native Jordanians.

During a time of increasing public discontent with the monarchy, the strategy to navigate this situation could become critical for Abdullah and his relations with the United States.

A destabilized Jordan would pose significant challenges for both the U.S. and Israel. There have already been calls from some opposition figures in Jordan advocating for a shift in alliances, suggesting the kingdom redirect its focus toward China, Russia, or affluent Arab nations.

All these dynamics complicate Trump’s ambition to relocate more than a million Palestinian refugees to those nations. Yet, he remains convinced that he can orchestrate a viable solution.

“I sense that despite their refusals, the leaders in Jordan and Egypt will ultimately be compassionate and provide us with the necessary land to make this happen,” Trump remarked last week, referring to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, a former military leader.

Tuesday’s gathering will not be the first discussion between Trump and Abdullah regarding the acceptance of additional Palestinian refugees.

“I told him, ‘I would really appreciate it if your country could take in more refugees because the current state of the Gaza Strip is alarming,’” Trump shared with reporters following a phone call with the Jordanian monarch last month.

At that time, Trump had yet to publicly disclose his proposal for “long-term stewardship” over the region. Administration officials had not discussed the details of his plan with Jordanian or Egyptian counterparts prior to its announcement from the East Room.

Although Trump had been in discussion with his aides about this concept for several days, it was not articulated in writing until presented in his remarks alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the previous Tuesday.

An Arab official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, indicated to CNN that the U.S. administration might not have thoroughly fleshed out Trump’s proposal. The official noted that Arab leaders plan to engage with the Trump administration to propose future scenarios for Gaza that would not entail displacing its Palestinian inhabitants.

How this aligns with Trump’s own vision remains uncertain.