UNIPATH STAFF
To discuss security cooperation and bilateral relations, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as part of a trip to the Middle East and met with His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein in March 2023.
Among shared concerns and challenges discussed by the two leaders were helping sustain security and stability in Iraq, arriving at a just political solution to Syria’s conflict, and countering destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
Austin expressed appreciation for Jordan’s efforts to facilitate integrated maritime, air, and missile defense cooperation with its allies. The U.S. is working with Jordan to deepen cooperation on arms transfers, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and border and maritime security.
Reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to Jordanian stability and prosperity, Austin highlight the $10.15 billion in assistance pledged to support Jordan’s water infrastructure and public sector, under the U.S.-Jordan Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership signed by the two parties in September 2022.
The two countries carry out joint and bilateral military exercises regularly to maintain military-to-military relationships. Jordan hosts the largest of them — Eager Lion — every two years.