Jordan has had close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom for many years.[1][2] During the first Gulf War (1990), these relations were damaged by Jordan's neutrality and its maintenance of relations with Iraq. Later, Jordan restored its relations with Western countries through its participation in the enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq and in the Southwest Asia peace process. After King Hussein's death in 1999, relations between Jordan and the Persian Gulf countries greatly improved.[3]
In 2000, Jordan signed a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, which went into effect in 2010.[4]
In 2013, the U.S. approved the CIA–led Timber Sycamore covert operation, based in Jordan, to train and arm Syrian rebels.[5]
Owing to its location, bordering Israel, Syria, and Iraq, Jordan has experienced wars along its borders for decades, and maintains careful diplomatic relations with Israel and its main ally, the U.S.[7]
Along with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, as of 2009[update] Jordan was one of only three Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel, Jordan's direct neighbour.[8]
Jordan views an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 borders, as part of the two-state solution and of supreme national interest.[9] The ruling Hashemite dynasty has had custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem since 1924, a position reinforced in the Israel–Jordan peace treaty. Turmoil in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque between Israelis and Palestinians created tensions between Jordan and Israel concerning the former's role in protecting the Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem.[10]
The political landscape of Jordan has changed as a consequence of the conflict between Israel and Hamas from October 2023. Prime minister Bisher al Khasawneh expressed his country's disapproval of Israel's offensive in Gaza by recalling its ambassador from Israel, and declared that Israel's ambassador, who had departed Amman following Hamas' attack, would not be permitted to return. Khasawneh argued that Israel's blockade of the heavily-populated Gaza Strip could not be justified as self-defense, and criticised the indiscriminate Israeli assault, which had included safe zones and ambulances in its targets.[11][12]
Jordanian residents (including the approximately 2 million Palestinian refugees and others with Palestinian roots) have staged protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, which adds pressure to the government to take action on the issue.[7] There is also evidence that there is more sympathy with Hamas among Jordanians in recent years.[13] However, Jordan's Western allies view the kingdom as a potentially vital mediator, should Israel and Hamas agree to negotiate. King Abdullah has been taking part in diplomatic meetings in Europe, aiming to secure safe passage of humanitarian aid; however, the government is also grappling with domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and trafficking of arms and drugs through Jordan to the West Bank. The king and Queen Rania have criticised Israel's action in Gaza, and called for a ceasefire. Jordan's ambassador to Israel was recalled, and the Israeli ambassador was told to stay away. Queen Rania, whose family is Palestinian with roots in the West Bank town of Nablus, called on Western leaders to denounce Israel's attacks on Palestinian civilians in an interview aired on CNN in the U.S. There are fears of a huge influx of refugees into Jordan as a result of the Israel-Hamas War.[7]
Jordan and Morocco tried to join the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2011, but the Gulf countries offered a five-year development aid programme instead.[18]
In May 2008, King Abdullah II visited Brunei, to bolster ties between Jordan and the southeast Asian nation, as well as discuss issues facing the Muslim world. Along with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Abdullah signed agreements devised to enhance cooperation in the economic, tourism and defense fields.[171]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 September 1954 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Jordan to Chile Mr. Issa Bandak.[48]
Jordan recognized the Republic of China on Taiwan in August 1957, official diplomatic relations of the People's Republic of China began on 7 April 1977[172]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 January 1958 when was accredited first Ambassador of Denmark to Jordan (resident in Cairo) Mr. Eggert Holten[54]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1947 when Mohamed Bey Yassin, Egyptian Minister in Transjordan with residence in Baghdad presented his credentials.[26]
The Holy See has a nunciature in Amman. Jordan has an embassy in Rome accredited to the Holy See. The Holy See has maintained comparatively good relations with Jordan. The name of the country comes from the Jordan River, which is significant to Christians because it was the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Various Christian clerics in the Arab world have a Jordanian background, such as Maroun Lahham in Tunisia and Fouad Twal in Palestine.
The Republic of India and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed their first bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations in 1947, which was formalised in 1950 when India became a sovereigndemocratic republic.[184] The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India stated in August 2011 that, 'India and Jordan have very warm, cordial and cooperative relations;
and it is our hope that the existing mutually beneficial relationship would be
further deepened and strengthened in the days ahead.'[185] Indian tourists visited Jordan in large numbers in 2010, with nearly 51,000 visitors. Apart from this, military, cultural and economic exchanges between the two nations is widespread. Quoting the Indian Foreign Ministry, 'India was the largest export partner and ninth largest import partner of Jordan in 2008. The trade turnover between the two countries stood at US$1.785 billion in 2008 i.e. Jordan's imports from India stood at about US$503 million in 2008 while its exports to India reached at US$1.283 billion in 2008. India's position in 2009 is third and fifteenth respectively as the trade turnover between the two countries stood at US$983 million in 2009 i.e. India's exports to Jordan in 2009 stood at US$297 million while imports were valued at US$686 million. In 2010, the India-Jordan trade volume stood at US$1.16 billion i.e. India's exports to Jordan stood at US$382 million in 2010 while imports were to the tune of US$783 million in 2010.'[185] Jordan is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and has thus forged close relations with India.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 May 1947 when Jamil Pasha el Rawi, the first Iraqi Minister to Transjordan, presented his credentials.[25]
Despite periodic crises of confidence and lingering Iraqi resentment over Jordan's close ties with Saddam Hussein, the two countries have managed to forge deep ties, in fact, Jordan has taken the lead among Arab states to do so. In the face of repeated attacks and threats, Jordan has maintained a strong diplomatic presence in Baghdad.
The economic impact of the Iraq crisis in Jordan has been mixed. Jordan has benefited greatly from serving as a "gateway" to Iraq for governments, aid workers, contractors, and businesspeople, the real estate and banking sectors are booming, and it stands to reap more benefits from increased trade and transport should the situation in Iraq improve. However, with the fall of Saddam Hussein, Jordan lost the sizable oil subsidies and customary shipments it received from Iraq.[186]
Unlike many of Iraq's other neighbors, Jordan can claim only modest influence over developments in Iraq. The kingdom does have notable intelligence capabilities vis-à-vis Iraq, and it reportedly helped the United States track down and kill Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Although some Jordanians highlight cross-border tribal and family connections with Iraqi SunniArabs, they pale in comparison to those of the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. Jordan's most significant means of influence is its hosting of a large and ever-changing Iraqi expatriate community, mostly of Sunni Arab origin.
Both countries established full diplomatic relations with the ratification of the peace treaty on 27 November 1994.[187]
Jordan and Israel have had official relations since 1994, when their leaders signed a peace treaty.[188] Historically, Jordan has had relatively warm relations with Israel compared to other Arab nations. Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco are the only Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel.
Kuwait's relations with Jordan weakened during the Gulf War because of Jordan's stand with Iraq. However, the two nations have apparently decided to bury the past. King Abdullah II and the Emir of Kuwait are working to restore good relations and further strengthen them.
Jordan has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur,[192] and Malaysia has an embassy in Amman.[193] Relations between the two countries are mainly in economic and Islamic affairs.
The preliminary and initial forms of Pakistan-Jordan contact can date as early as up to the 1970s and 1980s, although associations have risen at firmer altitudes since the mid-1990s up to 2000. In 2001, some prominent Pakistani leaders completed a visit to Amman, where they discussed with leaders of Jordan about pledging full-scale cooperations. In the duration of the convention, the King of Jordan had lauded what he called "deep, strong and historical relations" between the two countries and affirmed Jordan's keenness on consolidating its ties with Pakistan for the benefit of the two peoples.[196]
Relations between Jordan and Syria have fluctuated widely between normal diplomatic relations and full armed confrontation. At times, each side has attempted to subvert the other, and has supported and provided refuge to the other's internal opposition groups.
Jordan maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai. Both countries are part of the Middle East region and share close cultural ties.
^Swaidan, Ziad; Nica, Mihai (7 June 2002). "The 1991 Gulf War and Jordan's Economy". Rubin Center Research in International Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
^British Documents on Foreign Affairs--reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Israel, Syria, Arabia, The Middle East (General), Jordan and Arab Palestine and the Lebanon, January 1950-December 1950. University Publications of America. 2002. p. 301.
^ abRobert L. Jarman (2001). Political Diaries of the Arab World: 1947. Archive Editions. p. 601.
^ abRobert L. Jarman (2001). Political Diaries of the Arab World: 1947. Archive Editions. p. 601.
^Walter Lippmann, Whitney Hart Shepardson, William Oscar Scroggs (1950). The United States in World Affairs. Council on Foreign Relations. p. 545.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abMemoria (in Spanish). Chile. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1956. p. 442.
^Politica internacional: Revista Venezolana de asuntos mundiales y politica exterior. Vol. 1–8 (in Spanish). Comisión Editora, Politica internacional. 1986.
^"Jordan". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^Yitzhak Oron (1960). Middle East Record Volume 1, 1960 Volume 1. Published for The Israel Oriental Society, The Reuven Shiloah Research Center by George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Limited. p. 337. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
^"Etat des Relations". Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres et de la Cooperation Internationale Djibouti (in French). Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
^Pakistan Horizon - Volume 37. Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. 1984. p. 173.
^"Jordan". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Brunei Darussalam. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
^The Andean Report Volume 11. Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times. 1985. p. 226.
^Near East/South Asia Report. United States Joint Publications Research Service. 13 March 1987. p. 50. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
^Daily Report: Eastern Europe - Issues 95-103. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1987.
^Schenker, David (2003). Dancing with Saddam(PDF). Lanham: Lexington Books. p. 15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2013.