The enduring US-Jordanian alliance

The alliance between Jordan and the United States has lasted more than 70 years. In that time, two Jordanian monarchs have guided their country’s relationship with American leaders: King Hussein, who came to power at the age of 17 in 1952 and governed for nearly a half-century, and his son, King Abdallah, who inherited the throne in 1999. These leaders have survived assassination attempts, wars, and plots by their many enemies in the region, even as their country’s relationship with the U.S. has thrived.

In his new book, “Jordan and America: An Enduring Friendship,” Bruce Riedel provides the first comprehensive account of the U.S.-Jordanian relationship, offering new insights to its history, including an examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the multiple wars with Iraq, and the broader American strategy in the Middle East region.

On October 4, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion to launch this important book and examined the relationship between Jordan and the United States, including the lessons learned from its success stories and crises.

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