Jordan, a staunch U.S. ally hosting American forces in the Middle East, faces repercussions for its relationship with Washington, as Iranian strikes have targeted the kingdom's military installations repeatedly.
These hundreds of drone and missile attacks compound existing pressures on Jordan, which include an economy in decline and instability in the neighboring West Bank, where Israeli settlers have increased assaults on Palestinians.
Despite the threat of further strikes, Jordanian leaders maintain their commitment to the relationship after decades of seeking deeper security ties with American officials and offering reliable partnership to the West amid regional conflict. Analysts suggest this alliance helps Jordan defend against Iran's efforts to destabilize its neighbors.
King Abdullah II of Jordan acknowledged the necessity of such alliances last year, warning that chaos could spread far beyond the region due to instability fueled by the COVID-19 crisis, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and multiple Israeli military campaigns in the Middle East.
“We are living through wave after wave of disruption, without pause,” he told European lawmakers. “There is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end. That, my friends, is a threat to people everywhere.”
Jordan Embraces Washington Amid Stormy Middle East
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a nation shaped like a puzzle piece, bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, and the West Bank. Over 11 million Jordanians reside between the Jordan River, the Red Sea, and eastern deserts filled with ruins.
Beyond the Iranian threat, Jordan contends with other difficulties, such as an economy weakened by millions of refugees fleeing regional conflicts. Rising energy costs and inflation have worsened the situation while the tourism sector struggles to attract visitors to landscapes featured in Hollywood films by Peter O’Toole, Harrison Ford, and Matt Damon.
Sean Yom, a professor at Temple University and author of the 2025 book “Jordan: Politics in an Accidental Crucible,” noted that growing Israeli settler violence in the West Bank deeply concerns Jordanians who fear instability could force many of the 2.8 million Palestinians there to seek refuge in the kingdom.
Since succeeding his father, King Hussein, in 1999, Abdullah has strengthened connections between his capital, Amman, and Washington. The monarch, a fluent English speaker whose dynasty claims descent from Prophet Muhammad, enjoys broad support among global leaders and lawmakers in both U.S. parties.
President Donald Trump once described the king as “one of the true great leaders of the world.” Joe Biden also commended his leadership. First lady Jill Biden attended the wedding of Abdullah’s son Hussein to a Saudi aristocrat in 2023, and Pope Leo welcomed Abdullah to Vatican City in 2025.
As part of its partnership with the West, Jordan provided logistical support and intelligence for the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq and contributed to counter-Islamic State militant operations in Syria and Iraq.
Amer Sabaileh, an independent Jordanian political analyst, stated that Jordan’s alliance with the U.S. is central to Abdullah’s long-term effort to secure his kingdom against dangers, including those from Iran.
Yom added that Jordanian elites view Iran's support for Shiite militias in Iraq, armed Palestinian groups, and Syrian drug traffickers as direct threats to the royal court.
“Very few people in Jordan think the Islamic Republic is good for the Middle East,” he commented.
US Military Operations Depend on Dozen Sites in Jordan
Amman and Washington signed a defense-cooperation agreement in 2021 that granted U.S. forces and contractors access to 12 military installations throughout the kingdom. The NATO military alliance established its first liaison office in the region within Jordan in 2025.
David Schenker, a fellow at the Washington Institute, reported that as the Iran conflict approached, Jordan’s extensive Muwaffaq Salti Air Base became “a key logistics hub” for U.S. C-17 transport planes and approximately 60 combat aircraft.
“Jordan provides great strategic depth,” he said, describing the kingdom's location as “essential” to the U.S. campaign against Iran. “This makes Jordan a target, not just targeting U.S. forces but also targeting the king.”
Currently, about 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed across the Middle East, with an unspecified number in Jordan. Schenker estimates that at least 8%, or $1.47 billion, of the kingdom’s annual budget originates from U.S. grants.
In May, Adm. Charles Bradford, commander of the Pentagon department covering the Middle East, announced that the U.S. military had moved personnel and assets from its Islamic State mission in Iraq to Jordan. This relocation was part of a larger, ongoing strategy to increase the distance between American forces and Iranian missiles.
Those troops were sufficient to draw fire toward Jordan from the Islamic Republic. Most incoming drones and missiles were intercepted by U.S. air defenses.
Speaking Thursday in Vienna, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi defended his country's right to autonomous decision-making.
“Iran has been attacking us and many other countries in the region long before even this war started,” he said, referring to Iranian “meddling in internal affairs” and other covert activities. “So we do not buy their argument. We are a sovereign country. We were not a party to this war.”