AMMAN —
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul reaffirmed the US’ commitment to its strategic partnership
with Jordan, and highlighted the strong relationship between the two countries,
built on decades of mutual commitment.
اضافة اعلان
Stroul accompanied
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on his
visit to Jordan, where he met with His Majesty King Abdullah. Austin’s visit to
the Middle East is aimed at reaffirming the US commitment to the stability and
security of the region, and Jordan in particular.
‘Model’ relationship for the regionDescribing the US-Jordan relationship as a model for the rest of
the region, Stroul noted that the two nations will keep looking for additional
avenues to strengthen their already close ties, according to the Jordan News
Agency, Petra.
She also highlighted that President Joe Biden’s commitment to
Jordan is shared by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Stroul emphasized that Secretary Austin’s visit is motivated by his
belief that the path to Middle East stability and security will be through
multilateral security cooperation, emphasizing the importance of the Jordan-US
partnership.
She underscored that Austin's visit is also aimed at discussing
mechanisms for enhancing and strengthening regional security, especially given
that Jordan has long been a key leader in these efforts.
Regional roleStroul also discussed Jordan's significant role in the region's
security, stability, and economic prosperity, which is highly valuable to the
US.
The US official emphasized that Secretary Austin is aware that
Jordan is in a very dangerous region with numerous threats and reiterated that
the Department of Defense is committed to helping Jordan achieve regional
security and stability.
She noted that Jordan plays a crucial role in bringing world leaders
together, citing recent meetings in the city of Aqaba where officials from
Jordan, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the US came together to
defuse tensions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
According to Stroul, channels of communication are essential so
that the parties can “quickly come together, based on mutual understanding and
trust, to reduce tension whenever it arises”.
She noted that in another meeting in Aqaba, His Majesty the King convened
not only the region's leaders but also world leaders to discuss the threat
posed by the terrorist organization Daesh across the Middle East and the world.
The US Department of Defense has a national defense strategy that
outlines how to operate in the Middle East and calls for collaboration with
allies and partners to cement regional security in light of terrorist threats,
drone strikes, and maritime attacks, she added.
Military cooperationAccording to Stroul, when it comes to bilateral military
cooperation, the US Department of Defense is particularly proud of the
partnership between the US Army and the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and said
that the Jordanian army is very competent and has made significant investments
toward modernization.
She stated that the seven-year Memorandum of Understanding between the US and
Jordan, which is the longest one ever signed between the two nations and
includes a significant amount of military aid, is helping to strengthen
bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
According to Stroul, the memorandum was made because the US considers the
Jordan Armed Forces to be a crucial partner to work with, particularly in the
areas of maritime security, counterterrorism, and regional security,
emphasizing the role that the Jordanian army plays in preserving the region's
security.
She went on to say that the deal gives Jordan $400 million a year in security
assistance, as well as economic aid and support for the refugees that the
Kingdom is hosting.
It also outlines areas of cooperation like border security and
counterterrorism, Stroul also said of the agreement.
Stroul stated that the role of the US is to keep expanding the
opportunities for collaborative work on security, in addition to responding to
crises like the Corona pandemic, in order to improve the security and stability
of the region.
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