Prince Albert II of Monaco and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan joined the diplomatic discussions in Split, Croatia, this week, with the two royals also making time for a separate meeting on the sidelines of the MED9 summit.
According to Monaco’s Princely Palace, Albert attended as guest of honor on Wednesday, October 7, taking part in a gathering focused on the challenges facing the Mediterranean region.
© LUDOVIC MARINHis meeting with Hussein brought together Monaco’s sovereign and Jordan’s heir to the throne during a day of talks covering environmental protection, regional cooperation and developments in the Middle East.
The palace confirmed their conversation in its official Instagram announcement, although it did not disclose the subjects they discussed privately. Albert also met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, whose country organized the summit.
© Palais Princier de MonacoCroatia holds this year’s rotating presidency of MED9, an informal group bringing together nine southern European Union member states.
The gathering addressed security, migration, energy, environmental protection and the fight against climate change, alongside relations with countries on the Mediterranean’s southern shore.
© HANZA MEDIAPrince Albert’s message about protecting the Mediterranean:
For Albert, the visit included an opportunity to put marine conservation at the center of the conversation. The sovereign delivered an address during a session whose title translates as “Building a partnership for a sustainable and prosperous Mediterranean.”
© Pixsell, GROSBYGROUPAccording to the palace, he emphasized the need for Mediterranean countries to strengthen their cooperation in responding to environmental crises affecting the sea. His message rested on three essential principles. Science, collective action and financing.
That approach connected the summit’s broader discussions with Monaco’s own marine protection initiatives. Albert highlighted the principality’s involvement in the RAMOGE, PELAGOS and ACCOBAMS agreements, as well as the MedFund, citing them as examples of its commitment to protecting the marine environment.
© MARKO PERKOVHis speech gave the appearance a clear purpose beyond the formal meetings, encouraging countries across the region to work together and support their environmental ambitions with scientific knowledge and funding.
A day of diplomacy with Jordan’s crown prince:
Albert later participated in a working lunch devoted to geopolitical and geoeconomic prospects in the Middle East, adding another dimension to his visit before the palace’s announcement noted his separate exchanges with Hussein and Plenković.
© Grosbygroup/PixsellHussein’s presence also gave the gathering a connection to Jordan’s royal family. While the palace offered no details about his private conversation with Albert, their meeting formed part of a summit that considered both the Mediterranean’s environmental future and its relationships with neighboring countries.
With Albert attending as guest of honor, the Croatia visit brought Monaco’s marine conservation priorities into a wider international discussion, alongside the diplomatic exchanges that connected the two royal households in Split.
© LUDOVIC MARIN
