Jordan–United States relations

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Jordan – United States relations
Map indicating locations of Jordan and USA

Jordan
United States

Jordan has been a very close major non-NATO ally of the United States in the Middle East since 1996.[1]

History[edit]

King Hussein meeting US President Jimmy Carter in Washington in 1977
Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft, 2020.

Relations between the U.S. and Jordan have been close for over four decades.[2] U.S. policy seeks to reinforce Jordan's commitment to peace, stability, and moderation. The peace process and Jordan's opposition to terrorism parallel and indirectly assist wider U.S. interests. Accordingly, through economic and military assistance and through close political cooperation, the United States has helped Jordan maintain its stability and prosperity.[3]

Since its inception, Jordan has relied on sponsorship from major Western powers. Great Britain filled this role until the late 1940s; the U.S. stepped in during the 1950s. During the Gulf War of 1991, Jordan tried to solve the situation in an Arabian framework[clarification needed] that the U.S. interpreted as pro-Iraq. As a result, the U.S. started monitoring the country's only ocean port, Aqaba, to prevent any supplies from reaching Iraq. Jordan suffered financial hardships for this, and attitudes toward the U.S. only improved during the Madrid Conference of 1991, where the U.S. deemed Jordanian participation as essential.[4]

King Abdullah advised Washington against the 2003 Iraq War, but later allegedly gave the invading coalition some degree of covert and tacit support, despite the overwhelming opinion of his public.[5] The Jordanian government publicly opposed the war against Iraq. The King stressed to the United States and European Union that a diplomatic solution, in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions 1284 (1999) and 1409 (2002), was the only appropriate model for resolving the conflict between Iraq and the UN.[6] In August 2002 he told The Washington Post that an attempt to invade Iraq would be a "tremendous mistake" and that it could "throw the whole area into turmoil".[7]

In February 2023, King Adbullah and Crown Prince Hussein met with U.S. President Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C.[8][9] The President reaffirmed that the US would support Jordan’s "security and economic prosperity".[8][10] It was Abdullah's third meeting with President Biden after July 2021[11] and July 2022.[12]

On 29 April 2023, a United States bipartisan Congressional Delegation led by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy visited Jordan and met with King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein.[13][14] McCarthy stated he chose Jordan as the first country to visit as Speaker of the House because Jordan is "a strategic ally in the Middle East and share[s] America’s commitment to peace, prosperity – and most importantly – stability in the region."[13][15] The historic friendship and means to increase cooperation between the countries were discussed in the meeting. King Abdullah expressed his gratitude for the United States' support of Jordan and highlighted the necessity for further efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He put emphasis on the two-state solution which would result in an independent Palestinian State on the 1967 state lines with East Jerusalem as the capital.[16][17] During the Israel-Hamas war, President Biden and King Abdullah II met several times discussing humanitarian assistance to Gaza and another ceasefire.[18][19][20][21]

Programs[edit]

U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Commandos training with Jordanian special operations forces

Since 1952, the United States has provided Jordan with economic assistance totaling more than $14 billion ($1.3 billion in loans, and $7.7 billion in grants), including funds for development projects, health care, education, construction to increase water availability, support for microeconomic policy shifts toward a more completely free market system, and both grant and loan acquisition of U.S. agriculture commodities. These programs have been successful and have contributed to Jordanian stability while strengthening the bilateral relationship. U.S. military assistance—provision of material and training—is designed to meet Jordan's legitimate defense needs, including preservation of border integrity and regional stability. Jordan signed a Threshold Agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in October 2006, and was subsequently deemed by the MCC to be eligible for a Compact Agreement in recognition of the country's progress on economic, social, and political reform indicators.[3]

As of 2013, the United States had given Jordan's intelligence agency, the General Intelligence Directorate (the G.I.D), over $3.3 billion in aid over the previous five years, with another $200 million pledged for the Syrian refugee crisis.[22] The G.I.D is a close partner of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).[22] In 2014, due to concerns over Jordan's fragile economy being stretched by the influx of Syrian refugees, President Obama announced he would seek $1 billion in loan guarantees in addition to the $1.25 billion Congress approved in 2013.[23]

Human Rights promotion[edit]

Since the deadly terrorist attacks of 9/11, the United States has focused on security and stability in the region, while simultaneously fighting the War on Terror. As military training and intelligence operations became a higher priority after 2001, the Bush Administration revised the nation's rhetoric on human rights promotion and democracy in the region, despite the turbulent political climate of the Middle East. In an effort to move toward a more interventionist foreign policy, Bush created a specific freedom agenda. He strongly encouraged "the spread of freedom as the great alternative to the terrorists' ideology of hatred." Based on American ideals of democracy and liberty, the agenda emphasized the way the continued spread of freedoms can combat the conditions and opposition that breed extremism. The United States' strong push for action and democratic reform, especially from 2001 to 2008, resulted in the refinement of technical programs and an increase in democracy assistance. Issues of gender empowerment, legislative reform, emphasis on elections, and support for educational and developmental programs have risen to the forefront.

Reform/action taken for human rights promotion and democratization in Jordan include:

  • 2,800 troops deployed for protection of the border
  • New leadership for the Ministry of Interior, Jordanian Armed Forces, and the General Intelligence
  • Democracy assistance for programs such as Jordan School Expansion Project, Community Engagement Project, Local Enterprise Support Activity, and Workforce Development Program
  • Push to pass proposal for the number of female representatives to grow to 23, one representative for each electoral district

U.S. Embassy[edit]

The U.S. embassy is located in Abdoun, Amman. Principal U.S. officials in Jordan include:

Jordan Embassy[edit]

The Jordan embassy is located in Washington, D.C.

Friends of Jordan Caucus[edit]

King Abdullah II with Queen Rania visiting Washington, DC, 6 March 2007.

In the United States Congress, the Friends of Jordan Caucus was launched March 6, 2009, to support a strong relationship between Jordan and the United States and to facilitate the exchange of ideas between Members of the House of Representatives and Jordanian officials. The caucus was first co-chaired by Congressmen Schiff and Boustany, and Congressmen Baird (R-IN) and Fortenberry (R-NE) served as the first vice chairs.[28]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sharp, Jeremy M. (February 16, 2018). Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations (PDF). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Policy & History". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Relations With Jordan" Background Notes
  4. ^ Elayyan, Hani Ismael (2007). "Jordan". In Levinson, David; Christensen, Karen (eds.). Global Perspectives on the United States: A Nation by Nation Survey. Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire Publishing Group, Volume 1. pp. 350–4. ISBN 978-1-933782-06-5.
  5. ^ Rick Fawn and Raymond Hinnebusch The Iraq Causes and Consequences War (US, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers:2006, p. 143)
  6. ^ Rick Fawn and Raymond Hinnebusch The Iraq Causes and Consequences War (US, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers:2006, p. 144)
  7. ^ G. Kessler and P. Slevin, "Abdullah: Foreign Oppose Attack; Jordanian King to Urge Bush to Focus on Peace in Mideast, Not Invasion of Iraq," Washington Post, 1 August 2002
  8. ^ a b "Biden vows 'unwavering' commitment to Jordan during meeting with king". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  9. ^ "Biden underlines support for Jordan in meeting with king". Arab News. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  10. ^ Agencies, The New Arab Staff & (2023-02-03). "Biden emphasises support for Jordan in meeting with king". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  11. ^ "US Resets Ties with Key Arab Ally Jordan After Bumpy Ride". VOA. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  12. ^ House, The White (2022-07-16). "Joint Statement Following Meeting of President Joseph R. Biden and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Jeddah". The White House. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  13. ^ a b "Speaker McCarthy Delegation Arrives in Jordan". Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  14. ^ "House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is in Israel to deliver a historic speech to the Knesset". www.politico.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  15. ^ "U.S. House Speaker McCarthy visits Jordan, meets with King Abdullah II". All Arab News. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  16. ^ "King receives US Congress delegation headed by House speaker". Jordan Times. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  17. ^ "King Receives US Congress Delegation Headed By House Speaker". menafn.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  18. ^ Yilek, Caitlin (2024-02-12). "Biden touts hostage talks that could yield 6-week cease-fire between Israel and Hamas - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  19. ^ "Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah discuss 'shared commitment' to increase Gaza aid". The Independent. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  20. ^ "Jordanian King to meet Biden on efforts to end Israel-Hamas war". Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Biden and king of Jordan discuss hostage release efforts at White House meeting". NBC News. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  22. ^ a b Eells, Josh (19 July 2013). "Sleep-Away Camp for Postmodern Cowboys". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 July 2013. Jordan's intelligence agency, the G.I.D., is a close partner of the C.I.A. in the Arab world, and over the past five years, the United States has given Jordan more than $3.3 billion in aid and pledged an additional $200 million to help cope with the refugees who have poured over the Syrian border since August.
  23. ^ ARLENE SUPERVILLE (Feb 14, 2014). "Obama To Seek Additional Financial Aid For Jordan". Associated Press.
  24. ^ "Ambassador Yael Lempert". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  25. ^ "Deputy Chief of Mission Rohit Nepal". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  26. ^ "Ambassador Dina Kawar". Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  27. ^ "Embassy Staff". Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  28. ^ "Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus Launched". Reuters. 6 March 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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