Greece and Cyprus are “strong supporters” of “upgrading” the European Union’s relations with Jordan, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of trilateral meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Jordanian King Abdullah II, he expressed hope for the development of a “strategic” relationship between the EU and Jordan, and also expressed optimism regarding the discussions to be held.

“I am looking forward to our discussions on how to deepen our cooperation, to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East,” he said, while also speaking of the “positive development” of the announcement of a ceasefire between the State of Israel and Hezbollah on Tuesday.

Christodoulides added that all three countries will now have to “see how we will move forward considering that we have a new American administration”.

Last month, he had expressed fears last week that the United States may “step back” from its role in the international community after the country’s presidential elections on November 5.

“There is always a fear that you could have an America stepping back, a kind of seclusion and isolation. We have seen it in the past,” he said following a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s soon-to-be predecessor Joe Biden at the White House.

Also on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of all three countries, Cyprus’ Constantinos Kombos, Greece’s Giorgos Gerapetritis and Jordan’s Ayman Safadi, signed memoranda of understanding on the matters of water resources, environmental education and sustainable development, and investment.

The third memorandum of understanding was signed with the aim of “strengthening ties in the fields of the economy and trade”.

On Tuesday, Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis had said the meeting was “tangible proof that Cyprus is a trusted regional partner and keen to promote security and cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean”.

He added that the meeting would “highlight the country’s role as a stabilising factor in the eastern Mediterranean, with the main focus being on security, collaboration and development in critical sectors, such as energy, investments and the management of regional challenges”.