Why Jordan remains a critical US partner

The loss of several American servicemen in Jordan this week underscores the centrality of the Hashemite Kingdom to U.S. policy in the region. Jordan and America have been close partners for over 70 years, first under King Hussein and now under his son King Abdullah II. The United States was a key player in securing the Israel-Jordan peace treaty in 1994. Relations are particularly close in the intelligence sector, and the king often sends messages to Washington via that channel.

American access to several Jordanian bases provides space for launching military operations in Iran and Iraq that is somewhat less vulnerable than bases in Gulf states like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the others that are all closer to Iran. Jordan has excellent relations and close intelligence and security ties with most of the Gulf states. Some provide financial assistance to Jordan and all host large communities of Jordanian guest workers. Queen Rania grew up in Kuwait, for example.

Jordan also provides a buffer between Israel and the Persian Gulf states and acts as an important layer of regional air defense against drones and missiles fired at Israel. With American support, Jordan has shot down dozens of drones fired at Israel. Israel and Jordan have been intelligence and security partners for years. King Hussein negotiated the peace treaty with Israel through the Israeli secret intelligence service, the Mossad, not the Foreign Ministry. Cooperation is particularly close on terrorist threats.

Jordan has been an active participant in the fight against al-Qaida and its successors. Jordan first began inviting American troops into its bases to combat al-Qaida in Afghanistan and elsewhere after 9/11. Jordan sent a field hospital to Afghanistan in 2001 to support the U.S.-led operations there. Al-Qaida was thwarted in several plots to assassinate King Abdullah II, including one in 2000 in Greece.

The U.S.-Jordanian relationship has had bumpy years, especially after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, but it always survived these rough patches. The Jordanians are passionate supporters of the Palestinian cause; Rania is from a Palestinian family with deep roots in the West Bank and is especially outspoken about the fate of the Palestinian people. The peace treaty established a special role for the monarchy in the holy sites in Jerusalem. This role is very important to the king.

The United States has provided almost $34 billion in aid to the country over the last 75 years. The financial aid is critical to the country’s economy, and the military assistance is vital for the Jordanian military, especially the air force. The air force is equipped with American aircraft, and most of its pilots have been trained in the United States.

The United States and Jordan have been partners in counterterrorism and peacemaking for decades, as I have written about in my book “Jordan and America: An Enduring Friendship.” The relationship has thrived in the last decade or more, and the king is a frequent visitor to America. He is a strong advocate of the relationship and works hard to ensure it has bipartisan support in Congress. He often meets with visiting lawmakers to discuss his views and concerns.

The war with Iran has only made Jordan more vital to the U.S. military, which has deployed additional troops to Jordan from Bahrain to strengthen the U.S. position. It currently has 4,000 service members in the country. The U.S. presence is sensitive to some of the Palestinian population due to the close U.S.-Israel relationship. The core of King Abdullah II’s support is the Jordanian military, which has trained with the United States for years, and many Jordanian officers have studied in the United States. While there are differences between Washington and Amman over issues between Israel and its neighbors, both sides work hard to sustain the dialogue and keep it productive.

Iran’s attacks on Jordan and America are likely to reinforce their relationship. They share common interests on the war, which is creating huge challenges for the Jordanian economy. The announcement by the Zaidi Shia Houthi rebels in North Yemen this week that they will blockade Saudi Arabian ports in the Bab el-Mandab region will hamper transit to Jordan’s only port at Aqaba, further destabilizing the country. It will also impact Israel’s port at Eilat.