Jordan’s growing role in Turkish foreign policy
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Turkiye and Jordan were significantly affected by the Syrian civil war that lasted more than a decade. Now, with the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in December 2024, a new dynamic has emerged along Turkiye’s southern and Jordan’s northern borders — one that calls for closer coordination between the two states.
Jordan, a relatively small state known for its neutral regional policy, has not traditionally occupied a prominent place in Turkish foreign policy. But its geopolitical importance is far too significant to neglect. It has crucial potential when it comes to countering shared regional security challenges. Recent high-level meetings between Ankara and Amman, therefore, merit a closer look to better understand the possibility for Turkish-Jordanian cooperation.
Jordan’s King Abdullah paid an official visit to Turkiye last week at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who received him at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. King Abdullah’s last visit to Turkiye took place in February 2019. Back then, the regional picture looked very different. Now, the region has been reshaped by a series of major events — from the Oct. 7 attacks to the Iran-Israel war and the fall of the Assad regime — that have fundamentally shifted the political and security dynamics surrounding these two countries.
With the fall of the Assad regime, Jordan has emerged as a key partner in Turkiye’s regional policy, particularly regarding Syria and Gaza. For Turkiye, Jordan represents both a stabilizing actor on its southern periphery and a practical partner in managing the post-Assad regional order.
Amman and Ankara have found themselves on the same page in regard to regional crises. Jordan therefore became part of a regional cooperation mechanism established between Turkiye, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, which is aimed at coordinating responses to shared security challenges. Amman has hosted high-level regional security meetings led by Turkiye, bringing together foreign ministers, defense ministers and intelligence chiefs to discuss counterterrorism efforts and broader regional threats.
It was through Jordanian-Turkish cooperation that a joint mission to support Syria’s fight against terrorist organizations, particularly Daesh, was established. At the request of the new leadership in Syria, this joint mission was set up to operate in Damascus, marking a concrete step toward institutionalized regional security cooperation. Jordan and Turkiye are also part of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, further highlighting their shared role in the Gaza peace process.
In their joint statement, King Abdullah and Erdogan underscored the importance of preserving the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national unity of all regional states. This emphasis reflects a shared outlook. Jordan has long pursued a status quo-oriented foreign policy, prioritizing stability along its borders. Turkiye’s support for a centralized and territorially unified Syria closely aligns with Jordanian interests in this regard. Both countries view fragmentation and instability in Syria as a direct threat to their security, making their policy convergence not only strategic but also necessary.
Amman not only occupies a key position in terms of security cooperation, but also in economic coordination.
Dr. Sinem Cengiz
Jordan was also chosen to host NATO’s first liaison office in the Middle East. This opened last September, underscoring the country’s geopolitical importance. Jordan has been a member of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue since 1995. As a NATO partner, Turkiye views the alliance’s cooperation with Amman as increasingly significant, as its presence in the country will help strengthen the regional security architecture.Amman not only occupies a key position in terms of security cooperation, but also in economic coordination. Jordan and Turkiye, along with Syria, are working on a joint initiative to restore the historic Hejaz railway, focusing on the segment linking the three countries as part of efforts to rebuild regional transport and trade networks disrupted by years of conflict and border closures. Officials from the three countries have agreed on preliminary terms to draft a memorandum of understanding covering the restoration of damaged railway lines.
At one time, the railway was referred to as the “Iron Silk Road” due to its economic, social and political importance. The railway is “a relic of the bygone dream of regional unity before wars, borders and more advanced modes of transportation rendered its services obsolete.” Today, the three nations see its revival as both symbolic and strategic to restore regional connectivity, boost trade and contribute to postwar reconstruction.
Another key cooperation between Ankara and Amman involves boosting the overland freight route from Jordan’s Aqaba Port to Turkiye and onward to Eastern Europe through trilateral cooperation agreements. Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat noted that Turkish contractors were invited to participate in Jordan’s $15 billion development and infrastructure projects.
Moreover, in 2011, Jordan signed an agreement with Turkiye on cooperating to develop nuclear energy, paving the way for closer ties between the two countries. This week, the Saudi Cabinet was authorized to negotiate and sign draft agreements on peaceful nuclear and atomic energy cooperation with the governments of Jordan and Turkiye.
Turkiye and Jordan are also collaborating on a road corridor that will allow Turkish trucks to reach Jordan and the Gulf countries via Syria. The corridor is expected to become fully operational next year, once remaining issues in Syria are resolved, and it is projected to significantly boost regional trade. Bolat emphasized the importance of this route, stating: “Once we revive these roads and railways as they existed before 2010, trade and people’s prosperity will rapidly increase.” His reference to the pre-2010 period is particularly significant.
Ankara views coordination with regional states as a crucial element of its regional policy and, within this context, Jordan appears to be a key potential partner in Turkiye’s regional outlook.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
