Jordan–Syria relations

{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Jordan-Syria|Jordan|Syria|flagvariant2=revolution}}

Jordan–Syria relations are bilateral relations between the sovereign states of Jordan and Syria. Relations between neighbours have ancient roots as both countries are historically parts of the Levant or the region of Syria. The two states were created after the First World War from former Ottoman dominions by way of a secret bilateral agreement between Britain and France.

Proposals to unify Jordan and Syria

{{Main|Damascus Protocol|Syrian Social Nationalist Party|Fertile Crescent Plan}}

History

File:Sykes-Picot-1916.gif of 1916]]

=Pre-Syrian War=

Jordanian-Syrian tensions were exacerbated in the late 1960s, following the rift between Jordan and the PLO, with Syria supporting the Palestinians against Jordan. In September 1970, during the full-blown military hostilities between Jordan and the PLO known as Black September, Syria sent an armored division into Jordan to reinforce the Palestinian forces under attack by Hussein's army. By July 1971, Syria had broken off diplomatic relations with Jordan over the issue.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The October 1973 War against Israel resulted in a gradual improvement in relations, as Jordan contributed to the Syrian military effort;Rabinovich, 50. however, another break between Syria and Jordan occurred in 1977, following Jordan's tacit support for Egyptian President Sadat's peace initiative. During this period Syria charged Jordan with harboring members of the Muslim Brotherhood, who had escaped from Syria.{{cn|date= December 2023}}

Syrian Civil War

{{see|Spillover of the Syrian Civil War|Jordanian–Syrian border incidents during the Syrian Civil War}}

= 2012-2019 =

In 2012, relations became somewhat strained due to the Syrian civil war; reports emerged of Jordanian forces clashing with Syrian forces along the border.{{Cite news|title=Syrian and Jordanian forces clash in border area|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-idINDEE87900C20120811|access-date=2021-03-28}}

Jordan unofficially came out against the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria (an ally of Iran), considering Iranian long-term presence in Syria as a threat to its security.{{cite web|url=https://www.memri.org/reports/concern-jordan-over-pro-iranian-forces-border|title=Concern In Jordan Over Pro-Iranian Forces On Border|website=Memri.org|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208105914/https://www.memri.org/reports/concern-jordan-over-pro-iranian-forces-border|archive-date=8 February 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181002-iran-in-the-jordan-syria-relations/|title=Iran in Jordan-Syria relations|date=2 October 2018|website=Middle East Monitor|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003123326/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181002-iran-in-the-jordan-syria-relations/|archive-date=3 October 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-iran-out-of-syria-jordan-s-king-and-israel-share-a-strategy-1.6177047 |title= Analysis : The Jordanian King's Roller-coaster Ride Into Syria to Stop Iran|first=Zvi|last=Bar'el|date=17 June 2018|access-date=19 March 2019|website=Haaretz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206062825/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-iran-out-of-syria-jordan-s-king-and-israel-share-a-strategy-1.6177047|archive-date=6 February 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Jordan was also alleged to have been working with Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Israel in an attempt to curb Iranian involvement in Syria.{{cite web|date=21 December 2018|title=Report: Russia, Israel, Jordan and Saudis to Cooperate on Limiting Iran After Syria Withdrawal|url=https://hamodia.com/2018/12/21/report-russia-israel-jordan-saudis-cooperate-limiting-iran/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221112510/https://hamodia.com/2018/12/21/report-russia-israel-jordan-saudis-cooperate-limiting-iran/|archive-date=21 December 2018|access-date=19 March 2019|website=Hamodia.com|df=dmy-all}}

On 28 July 2012, Jordan opened the Zaatari refugee camp east of Mafraq to host Syrian refugees.{{Cite web |title=Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp: 10 facts at 10 years |url=https://www.unhcr.org/us/news/stories/jordans-zaatari-refugee-camp-10-facts-10-years |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=UNHCR US |language=en-us}}{{Cite news |last=Chulov |first=Martin |date=2013-07-25 |title=Zaatari camp: makeshift city in the desert that may be here to stay |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/25/zaatari-camp-makeshift-city-jordan |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

On 30 April 2014, the Azraq refugee camp opened near Azraq.{{Cite news |last=Beaumont |first=Peter |date=2014-04-30 |title=Jordan opens new Syrian refugee camp |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/30/jordan-new-syrian-refugee-camp-al-azraq |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-04-30 |title=Jordanian Government and Partners Open Azraq Refugee Camp |url=https://www.care.org/news-and-stories/press-releases/jordanian-government-and-partners-open-azraq-refugee-camp/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Care |language=en}}

On 26 May 2014, Jordan expelled Syrian ambassador Bahjat Suleiman who, according to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, was declared persona non grata because of "continued offensive statements, through his personal contacts or writing in the media and the social media, against the kingdom."[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/26/jordan-expels-syrian-ambassador/ Jordan expels Syrian envoy in diplomatic tussle]. Fox News. Published by Associated Press, May 26, 2014; re-published by Fox News. Retrieved 5 July 2014.

Jordan is part of the American-led intervention in Syria, and has established a "special working mechanism" to coordinate its involvement there with the Russian military intervening in the civil war on Assad's side.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-jordan-idUSKCN0SH1ER20151023|title=Russia, Jordan agree on military coordination on Syria|newspaper=Reuters |date=23 October 2015|via=www.reuters.com}}

Although Jordan initially supported the moderate rebel coalition known as the Southern Front,{{Cite news|work=New York Times|title=Warily, Jordan Assists Rebels in Syrian War

|date=April 10, 2014|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/world/middleeast/syria.html?mcubz=0}} it later pressured the United States to freeze the CIA's armament support for them.{{cite news|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/world/middleeast/cia-arming-syrian-rebels.html?mcubz=0|date=July 19, 2017|title=Trump Ends Covert Aid to Syrian Rebels Trying to Topple Assad}} Jordan is said to support the Revolutionary Commando Army, but has stated the objective of that group is to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), not the Syrian government.{{cite news|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/04/jordan-north-south-syria-military-involvment.html|title=Will Jordan confront IS in southern Syria?|date=April 18, 2017|work=Al-Monitor}}

On July 19, 2021, US president Joe Biden met with Jordanian king Abdullah II and discussed, among other things, the future of the Syrian crisis. In that meeting King Abdullah suggested Biden cooperate with Russia and the Government of Syria to help stabilize Syria and restore Syrian sovereignty and unity.{{Cite news|title=Opinion {{!}} Jordan's King Abdullah II has become Washington's favorite Arab leader again |newspaper= Washington Post |issn= 0190-8286 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/20/jordans-king-abdullah-ii-has-become-washingtons-favorite-arab-leader-again/ |access-date= 2021-07-22}}

= 2020-2023 =

On 3 October 2021, King Abdullah II held a telephone conversation with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the first contact since the start of the Syrian civil war.{{Cite news|last=Al-Khalidi|first=Suleiman|date=3 October 2021|title=Jordan's Abdullah receives first call from Syria's Assad since start of conflict|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordans-abdullah-receives-first-call-syrias-assad-since-start-conflict-2021-10-03/|access-date=17 December 2021}} They discussed bilateral relations after Amman fully opened borders with Syria.{{Cite web|title=Jordan's king receives first call from Syria's al-Assad in decade|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/3/jordans-king-receives-first-call-from-syrias-assad-in-decade|access-date=17 December 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}

In February 2023, after the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, Jordan provided urgent medical and humanitarian aid to Syria. The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army delivered rescue equipment, tents, medical supplies and food.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Jordan sends multiple batches of humanitarian aid for Syria, Turkey relief efforts |url=https://jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-sends-multiple-batches-humanitarian-aid-syria-turkey-relief-efforts |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Jordan Times |language=en}} In addition, the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi visited Damascus for the first time since the start of the Syrian Civil War.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-15 |title=Jordan's foreign minister visits Syria in first trip since war |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/jordans-foreign-minister-visit-syria-turkey-show-solidarity-after-quake-2023-02-15/ |access-date=2023-08-14}}

= Post-Assad (2024-Present) =

Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met in Damascus with de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa stating: "We stand by our Syrian brothers as they start the rebuilding process".{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/23/stand-by-our-syrian-brothers-says-jordan-fm-after-meeting-al-sharaa |title=‘Stand by our Syrian brothers’, says Jordan FM after meeting al-Sharaa |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=23 December 2024 }}

Syrian foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani made an official visit to Jordan on 7 January 2025 where both countries agreed to form a joint security committee to counter smuggling across their common border.https://www.petra.gov.jo/Include/InnerPage.jsp?ID=67181&lang=en&name=en_newshttps://menafn.com/1109066971/Jordan-Syria-establish-joint-security-committee-to-tackle-border-threats-drug-smuggling

Jordan-Syria relations saw a new phase on 26 February 2025, when Jordan’s King Abdullah met Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Amman. The leaders agreed to strengthen border security to combat arms and drug smuggling, a persistent issue during Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Jordan has blamed pro-Iranian militias for the problem, and Sharaa pledged to address it. The meeting followed Israeli airstrikes in Syria, which Jordan condemned. Sharaa, who led the offensive that ousted Assad, has been engaging with regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Jordan supports Syria’s political transition and has offered assistance in rebuilding efforts, including energy supplies.{{Cite web |last=Al-Khalidi |first=Suleiman |date=26 February 2025 |editor-last=Heavens |editor-first=Andrew |editor2-last=Maclean |editor2-first=William |title=Jordan, Syria leaders agree to bolster border security |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordan-king-tells-syrian-interim-president-he-condemns-israeli-attacks-2025-02-26/ |access-date=4 March 2025 |website=Reuters}}