AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan, a key US ally in the Middle East, finds its long-standing security partnership with Washington tested by a series of Iranian strikes that have targeted its military bases, escalating regional tensions. The kingdom faces a precarious balancing act, seeking to maintain crucial defense ties with the United States while navigating economic pressures and instability in neighboring territories.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that hundreds of drone and missile attacks have added to the strain on Jordan, which is also contending with a faltering economy and volatile conditions in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have intensified attacks on Palestinians. Despite the inherent risks, Jordanian leadership maintains its commitment to the alliance, viewing it as a vital safeguard against Iran’s regional destabilization efforts.
King Abdullah II of Jordan has previously highlighted the escalating global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and numerous Israeli military campaigns in the Middle East. He warned European lawmakers last year that these conflicts could trigger widespread chaos, stating, “We are living through wave after wave of disruption, without pause.” The monarch emphasized the interconnected nature of these threats, noting, “There is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end. That, my friends, is a threat to people everywhere.”
The Hashemite Kingdom, a strategically positioned nation bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, and the West Bank, hosts a population of over 11 million people. Beyond the threat posed by Iran, Jordan grapples with significant economic challenges, exacerbated by the influx of refugees from regional conflicts and the impact of soaring energy prices and inflation. The vital tourism sector, which once drew international attention to its historical landscapes, continues to struggle.
Furthermore, the increasing violence by Israeli settlers in the adjacent West Bank creates apprehension among Jordanians, who fear that instability could lead to a significant displacement of the region’s 2.8 million Palestinians into the kingdom, according to Sean Yom, a professor at Temple University and author of “Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible.”
Since assuming the throne in 1999, King Abdullah II has cultivated robust ties between Amman and Washington. The monarch, a fluent English speaker whose lineage traces back to the Prophet Muhammad, commands broad support among international leaders and across the US political spectrum. Former President Donald Trump referred to the king as “one of the true great leaders of the world,” and President Joe Biden has also lauded his leadership. First Lady Jill Biden attended the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein in 2023, and Pope Leo welcomed King Abdullah II to the Vatican in 2025.
Jordan’s partnership with the West has included providing logistical support and intelligence for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and contributing to operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. Amer Sabaileh, an independent Jordanian political analyst, stated that the alliance with the US is fundamental to King Abdullah II’s long-standing strategy to protect his kingdom from threats, including those emanating from Iran.
Jordanian elites perceive Iran’s backing of Shiite militias in Iraq, armed Palestinian groups, and Syrian drug traffickers as direct threats to the royal court, Yom explained. He added, “Very few people in Jordan think the Islamic Republic is good for the Middle East.”
The defense cooperation agreement signed in 2021 between Amman and Washington grants US forces and contractors access to twelve military installations across the kingdom. The NATO military alliance also established its inaugural liaison office in the region within Jordan in 2025.
David Schenker, a fellow at the Washington Institute, noted that Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan served as a critical logistics hub for US C-17 transport planes and approximately sixty combat aircraft during the lead-up to the Iran conflict. He described the kingdom’s position as “essential” to the US campaign against Iran, providing “great strategic depth,” which consequently makes Jordan a target for both US forces and the king himself.
Approximately 50,000 US troops are presently deployed across the Middle East, with an unspecified number stationed in Jordan. Schenker estimates that around 8 percent, or $1.47 billion, of Jordan’s annual budget is directly derived from US grants.
In May, Admiral Charles Bradford, commander of the Pentagon department overseeing the Middle East, announced the relocation of personnel and assets from the US mission against the Islamic State in Iraq to Jordan. This strategic shift aims to increase the distance between American forces and Iranian missiles. Despite these measures, the presence of US troops has drawn fire toward Jordan from the Islamic Republic, though most incoming missiles and drones have been intercepted by US air defenses.
Speaking in Vienna on Thursday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi defended the kingdom’s autonomy in decision-making. He stated, “Iran has been attacking us and many other countries in the region long before even this war started,” referring to Iranian interference in internal affairs and other clandestine activities. “So we do not buy their argument. We are a sovereign country. We were not a party to this war.”
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The Chenab Times News Desk
