Jordan has increasingly aligned with US strategy as the Middle East grows more polarized.

“You are very, very fantastic people with tremendous brilliance and energy…you have a King who is a tremendous man…King Abdullah II is one of the true great leaders of the world.”

When Donald Trump delivered those words to the Jordanian people on February 12, 2025, the praise was striking—and unexpected. Only days earlier, US-Jordan relations appeared headed for turbulence after Trump floated relocating Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan—a proposal that sparked anxiety in Amman and led many to assume the relationship would deteriorate.

Instead, over the past year, Washington and Amman have quietly deepened their strategic partnership such that today Jordan is more important to the United States than ever before. This evolution is driven first by Washington’s urgent need for a reliable regional anchor as Iran weakened and regional alliances shifted, and reinforced by Amman’s rapid alignment with US military strategy, counterterrorism operations, and regional security priorities.

The most visible signal of Jordan’s rising importance came on February 3, 2026, when the US House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act. Buried within the legislation was a striking figure: no less than $1.65 billion in assistance for Jordan, including $845.1 million in direct budget support and at least $425 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF). An additional $400 million from National Security Investment Programs and another $50 million in FMF pushed the total even higher.

This is not routine aid. It represents a significant jump from the roughly $1.45 billion annual assistance package that defined the US-Jordan Memorandum of Understanding for much of the past decade. The new figure pushes total assistance beyond $2 billion when additional security funds are included.

Foreign aid is never just an act of generosity; it is a strategic investment in access, basing, interoperability, and political alignment. Congress traditionally increases funding when a partner’s strategic value rises. The surge reflects Washington’s recognition that Amman offers what America needs: a stable platform near Syria and Iraq, a dependable partner against Iran and ISIS, and a trusted host for US forces.

If the aid increase signals trust, the military buildup signals urgency.

Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB) has rapidly become one of the most critical US military hubs in the Middle East, and the scale of the current airlift makes that shift measurable. As of February 7, 2026, at least 112 US Air Force C-17 strategic airlift flights have arrived or are en route to the region, with another 17–18 flights still in progress. Of those, a striking 67 flights were destined for MSAB, far surpassing US bases in the Gulf and Diego Garcia. The distribution alone reveals where Washington now sees its primary logistical hub.

Reports indicate deployments of F-15E fighter jets, Patriot missile defense batteries, and THAAD systems. This combination transforms Jordan into a frontline node in America’s regional air and missile defense architecture. It also positions the kingdom as a launch point for rapid US power projection across Syria and Iraq.

Since Iran’s missile and drone threat reshaped US military planning across the region, the Pentagon now prioritizes dispersed basing, layered air defense, and forward positioning. Jordan offers all three. It is geographically central, politically stable, and deeply cooperative with US forces. In an era when the United States is reassessing its footprint in Iraq and Syria, Jordan provides the dependable anchor Washington needs.

The evolving alliance is not limited to basing agreements. Jordan is now an operational partner in active military campaigns.

On December 13, 2025, ISIS militants killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Syria. The response was swift. Under Operation Hawkeye Strike, Jordan joined the United States in retaliatory airstrikes against ISIS positions. Jordanian F-16s flew alongside American aircraft in a coordinated campaign targeting the jihadist group on two occasions: December 19, 2025, and January 10, 2026.

Jordan has long been a security partner, but participating in joint retaliatory strikes after American casualties marks a deeper level of operational integration. This deepening military cooperation is not a one-sided story. Jordan’s strategic evolution is not driven only by Washington. King Abdullah II is actively reshaping the Jordanian Armed Forces to meet future threats.

On January 24, 2026, the king unveiled plans to restructure the military to prioritize mobility, advanced technology, and rapid response capabilities. The reforms emphasize modernization, professionalization, and integration with allied forces.

The parallels with the US 2026 National Defense Strategy are hard to miss. Both focus on adaptability, emerging technologies, and readiness for hybrid warfare. Jordan’s reforms appear designed not merely for national defense but for interoperability with US and allied militaries.

Jordan’s alignment is intentional, signaling that its armed forces are evolving in tandem with US strategic thinking. For Washington, this makes Jordan even more valuable: a partner that is not only willing but structurally prepared to operate within US-led security frameworks.

On December 24–25, 2025, Jordan launched airstrikes in southern Syria’s Suwayda province targeting drug smuggling networks linked to Israeli-supported Druze groups. These strikes reflected Amman’s long frustration with cross-border narcotics trafficking and security threats emanating from Syria.

The United States issued no public criticism. This silence suggests that Washington views Jordan as a trusted partner capable of taking independent military action aligned with broader US strategic goals, even when those actions clash with Israeli interests. In the past, such operations might have triggered diplomatic friction. Today, they pass without public rebuke.

It seems Jordan’s commitment to the US strategy has earned it greater operational freedom.

Jordan’s growing alignment with Washington is unfolding against a dramatic regional shift. Iran’s weakening has triggered a realignment across the Middle East, producing two emerging geopolitical camps.

One camp constitutes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt—a coalition focused on economic integration and strategic autonomy. The other camp includes the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Greece, and India, a bloc emphasizing security cooperation and technological partnerships. These groupings reflect competing visions of the region’s future.

Yet Jordan has chosen not to join either camp. Instead, it has positioned itself squarely alongside the United States. This is a deliberate choice. By aligning primarily with Washington rather than regional coalitions, Jordan preserves its strategic flexibility while reinforcing its role as America’s most dependable Arab partner.

In a region increasingly defined by shifting alliances and transactional partnerships, Jordan offers a rare consistency in policy. For decades, Amman has maintained a pro-Western orientation, cooperated closely with US security objectives, and avoided the volatility that has reshaped many neighboring states. Today, that reliability is more valuable than ever.

The Middle East is entering a new era. Old assumptions are fading, new blocs are forming, and power is redistributing across the region. In this uncertain landscape, the United States is doubling down on partners it trusts. Jordan has made its choice. It has aligned itself firmly with Washington’s strategy, military posture, and regional vision.

Washington has responded in kind—with money, weapons, cooperation, and trust. The result is unmistakable. Jordan is no longer just another reliable partner. It is rapidly becoming the United States’ most valuable ally in the Middle East.

About the Author: Abdullah Hayek

Abdullah Hayek is a senior contributor with Young Voices and an independent Middle East analyst and consultant based in Washington, DC. He previously specialized in the political, economic, and military affairs of the Levant, Iraq, and Arabian Gulf regions at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Follow him on X: @ahayek99.

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