Abdullah II, Abdullah ibn Hussein

King of Jordan from 1999. Abdullah was crowned king of Jordan after his father, Hussein ibn Talal, who had ruled the Hashemite Kingdom since 1952, died. Abdullah, who was an army major general, and untested in the affairs of state, became the fourth leader of this small but strategically vital state. He promised to maintain Hussein's legacy, continuing the course of moderation and commitment to Middle East peace.

In January 1999, the ailing King Hussein named Abdullah crown prince, replacing his brother, Hassan, who had held the post for 34 years. Abdullah had earlier been named crown prince soon after his birth, but was replaced by his uncle in 1965 because Hussein wanted an adult to help run the affairs of state. The shift back to Abdullah brought hints of discord within the royal court, and raised questions about whether King Abdullah would be capable of meeting the challenges of leadership in a country with economic troubles and volatile neighbours.