On January 25, 2025, US President Donald Trump proposed the idea of shifting Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt. This suggestion has created much tension in these nations, especially with Jordan. Jordan and Egypt rejected this proposal by Donald Trump. However, Trump repeated this idea again and again and said he could use US power and influence to pressure these nations.
According to experts, this decision by Donald Trump puts King Abdullah II of Jordan in a tough position. Jordan greatly depends upon US aid and security. This dependence makes it vulnerable to pressure. One of the political science professors, Sean Yom, said that King Abdullah strongly criticized the idea of Donald Trump. But the US support may pressure the country to accept Trump’s proposal.
In 1994, Jordan received billions of dollars of aid from the US due to the Wadi Araba Treaty between Israel and Jordan. This support may permit Donald Trump to push Jordan into accepting the Palestinian presence in the nation.
The United States is one of the top donors as it provides approximately $1.45 billion in aid each year to Jordan. But in January Trump’s announcement to take a 90-day pause on foreign aid confused the world. This suspension is due to a review of current programs, with some humanitarian assistance continuing under a waiver from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This aid freeze decision could significantly impact the economy of Jordan, affecting support for future development, and humanitarian projects. Due to all the above reasons, Jordan must follow the US policies, especially in the Middle East
If this freeze continues for a longer period, Jordan may need to seek financial support from other nations. This includes Gulf states, Russia, and the European Union. Furthermore, to manage funding gaps, Jordan may face pressure to implement unpopular austerity measures. This could result in public protests and instability.
“It will also directly hit the security apparatus, and all the harder since so much aid is routed through the military and police now” according to Hughes, author of the book Kinship, Islam and the Politics of Marriage in Jordan: Affection and Mercy.
Jordan’s growing unrest: Political and social tensions
Over 62,000 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s war in Gaza, which has stoked public ire in Jordan. Over two million Palestinian refugees are among the many Jordanians who are irritated by their government’s strong ties to Israel and the US. Since 2023 and continuing into 2024, this has been the driving force behind widespread protests.
In response, the administration made a large number of arrests, saying it was going after rioters while permitting nonviolent protests. But because of this strategy, tensions have increased, and the administration now has few choices for reducing public unhappiness.
The Islamic Action Front (IAF), which is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, increased its number of seats in parliament from seven to thirty-one in the September 2024 elections, marking a significant political shift.
Jordan’s crucial role may speed up US aid restoration
The strong ties between Jordan and the United States make it possible that foreign aid will return faster in Jordan as compared to other nations. Jordan is a key ally of the US, supporting its monarchy and relying on its help in military operations. According to analysts, freezing aid negatively impacts Jordan’s stability and also impacts wider regions such as Egypt.
Given Jordan’s role in maintaining balance in the Middle East, the US may be forced to reverse its decision. Experts believe long-term interests will push Washington to restore aid sooner rather than later.
