His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Tuesday inaugurated the Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference SOFEX 2022, in Aqaba.
King Abdullah was received by His Royal Highness Prince Feisal bin Al Hussein and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Hneiti, Petra news agency reported.
Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) CEO and SOFEX Jordan General Manager Brigadier General Ayman Batran said the conference, under His Majesty’s leadership, has become an international hub for exhibiting the latest technologies affiliated with special forces.
For his part, King Abdullah II Special Forces Group Commander Colonel Nael Shugeirat expressed appreciation for the King’s continuous support, which enabled JAF to build strong partnerships with a number of countries, highlighting the importance of SOFEX in enhancing international cooperation in the development of defence industries.
His Majesty also attended a JAF drill on the southern shore of Aqaba held as part of the SOFEX opening ceremony.
The King, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, toured the exhibition, which features the latest equipment and technologies in defence and security used by elite and special forces worldwide, including in defence, planning, organisation, and training.
A special pavilion for JAF and security agencies showcases their military, technical, and training capabilities, and highlights their international role in peace-keeping forces and joint drills, as well as the key products and equipment they oversee in terms of manufacturing and distribution.
Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Hneiti, General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, and Public Security Directorate Director Major General Obaidallah Maaytah accompanied His Majesty on the tour.
His Majesty King Abdullah also met in Aqaba on Tuesday with Commander of US Special Operations Command General Bryan P. Fenton, and UK Chief of Defence Staff’s Senior Adviser to the Middle East and North Africa Air Marshal Martin Sampson.
The separate meetings, held on the sidelines of SOFEX 2022 and attended by His Royal Highness Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, covered means of enhancing Jordan’s cooperation with the United States and the United Kingdom in the fields of military and defence.
The meetings also addressed the importance of SOFEX in enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise among the participating countries on issues related to special forces and defence industries.
Moreover, discussions covered regional and international efforts to counter terrorism within a holistic approach.
The 13th edition of SOFEX kicked off its 13th edition on Monday in Aqaba with the Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference (MESOC 2022).
This year’s SOFEX features the participation of over 300 companies in the field of defence and weapon manufacturing from 38 countries, in addition to delegations from 98 countries, and 13 pavilions for participating countries.
The event features specialised workshops, discussions, and live shows, in addition to private meetings and signing of agreements.
