Jordan – the United States’ supposed key to the Middle East
Possible AIM-120 sale after recent increase of US-Jordanian relations
08:42 GMT, August 5, 2009 defpro.com | The past days have again pushed into the headlines the longstanding US-Jordan relationship with bilateral meetings, including a visit by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in late July and talks with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday. At the heart of the Middle East, Jordan has been a key gateway of the United States to the Middle East since the 1950s and has received significant funding ($5.6 billion per year since 1952) and military assistance from its geographically, as well as culturally distant partner.
However, regardless of the pro-Western foreign policy of the Jordanian government, it remains an Islamic country with essential ties to its neighbouring countries and with a crucial involvement in the political landscape of the region, which has not come to rest for decades and even centuries. Jordan seems to be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: its relationship to the United States has been in a more or less strong contrast to its position during the Gulf War, as well as regarding the never-ending conflict between Israel and Palestinians.
Nevertheless, its comparatively liberal government will continue to be a strategically important key for the United States to steadily strengthen its influence in the region and for the Obama administration to find allies for its push in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The recent bilateral meetings have obviously been successful in bolstering existing ties. But how far will this success reach?
At the heart of the Middle East
As the US Department of Defense noted when issuing a statement on the occasion of Gates’ visit to Amman, Jordan is promoting security in the region by helping to train both Palestinian Authority and Iraqi security forces. Gates noted the professionalism of the Jordanian military, and that it is investing in providing world-class training for its own forces and others in the region. Furthermore, Jordan is promoting Arab contributions to a comprehensive Middle East peace, including the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Gates has recognised Jordan’s key role in assisting its troubled neighbour Iraq and said: “I also commend Jordan for leading the way in assisting Iraq as it seeks renewed engagement with its neighbours.” King Abdullah of Jordan was the first Arab head of state to visit the new Iraq. To further support Jordan, the US has decided to provide economic-support worth $360 million and approximately $300 million in annual security-assistance funds.
However, the ongoing conflict beyond its western borders does not seem to find a common ground with US policy. Even though Jordan supports a two-nation solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories, on Monday Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh clearly pointed out that Jordan opposes the US appeal to improve relations with Israel to help restart Middle East peace talks.
According to recent media reports, Jordan is joining with Saudi Arabia in publicly rejecting the US push, which had been fostered by Clinton during her visit. Judeh said that incremental confidence-building measures the US wants Arab states to take would not produce a resolution to the conflict. Furthermore, he renewed criticism of Israel for its refusal to halt construction of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
US military equipment at the core of the Jordanian Armed Forces
While not a part of US-Jordanian defence deals, the recent transfer of six Dutch surplus F-16A/Bs further increases the amount of defence equipment of US origin in service with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan operates a significant number of F-16s, currently being modernised to a common MLU standard, which together with the Mirage F1 will soon entirely replace the ageing F-5E/F Tigre II fighters. After Jordan concluded a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 the US decided to donate 16 F-16s, making Jordan the first country outside the US to operate the fighter aircraft with the AIM-7M Sparrow and AIM-9M Sidewinder as primary weapons.
On Monday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) of 85 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) as well as six 120C Captive Air Training Missiles, including associated equipment and logistic services. The estimated value of the deal is $131 million. The prime contractor will be the Raytheon Corporation of Tucson, Arizona. As the DSCA states, “the proposed sale will improve Jordan’s capability to meet current and future threats of enemy air-to-air weapons. Jordan will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”
During his visit, Gates praised the professionalism of the Jordanian military and its significance to the stabilisation effort in Iraq. Back in May, General David Petraeus attended the inauguration of a regional counter-terrorism training center in Jordan. The King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre has been partly funded by the US. Gates noted “that state-of-the-art facility will be the foundation upon which other nations in the region will build their counter-terrorism forces.” Jordan's Army chief, General Khaled Sarairah, emphasised during the inauguration that “the centre is a true example of Jordanian-US partnership to fight all types of terrorism.”
The further progress of both, the stabilisation effort in Iraq and the peace process of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will show if this tight partnership will prove to be one of the deciding pieces in the Middle East puzzle.
Nicolas von Kospoth
