President Donald J. Trump Is Strengthening Bilateral Relations With Jordan

A VALUED STRATEGIC ALLY: President Trump views Jordan as a key strategic ally, and looks to build on the strong, decades-long relationship between the United States and Jordan.

• Jordan plays a vital role in addressing many of the highest priority challenges facing the region:
  • Countering the threat of ISIS;
  • Supporting a peaceful political transition in Syria; and
  • Expanding prosperity across the region.
• Jordan is a key partner in our efforts to achieve a lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

AN IMPORTANT TRADE PARTNER: President Trump looks to expand the deep trade relationship that exists between our two countries.

• The United States is Jordan's largest trading partner.
• In 2017, total bilateral trade in goods between the two countries exceeded $3.6 billion.
  • Jordanians buy apples from Washington State, American-made cars, and numerous other American products and services.
  • Americans can purchase Jordanian pharmaceutical products, as well as cosmetics, jewelry, and camping gear.
• In 2000, the United States signed a Free Trade Agreement with Jordan, the first signed in the Arab world, and the first to include provisions on labor, the environment, and e-commerce.

A LONG HISTORY OF SECURITY AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE: The United States and Jordan have long been security partners and work together to improve the economic situation in the region.

• In February 2018, the United States and Jordan signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding, in which the United States committed to requesting $1.275 billion in security and economic assistance annually for Jordan from Congress between 2018 and 2022.
• The United States has long provided Jordan with military and economic assistance:
  • The United States remains Jordan's largest donor of bilateral economic assistance, providing $832 million in Economic Support Funds in 2017.
  • In 2017, the United States provided Jordan with $470 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), making it the third-largest FMF recipient in the world.

AN ANCHOR FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS: With American assistance, Jordan has taken on significant responsibility for humanitarian relief in the Middle East.

• Jordan continues to host refugees from across the region who have fled violence, including many from neighboring Syria and Iraq.
• To date, the United States is the largest single donor contributing to the Syria humanitarian response.
  • The United States has provided more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian aid to organizations assisting Syrian refugees and vulnerable host community members in Jordan since the start of the crisis.
• The United States supports other refugee populations in Jordan through contributions to regional and international aid organizations.

EXTENSIVE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE EXCHANGE: The United States and Jordan have a long and extensive history of interaction between our peoples.

• Approximately 7,300 Jordanians have participated in the State Department's various exchange programs.
  • Alumni include government ministers, journalists, artists, educators, and successful entrepreneurs.
• As part of the Fulbright program, 27 Jordanians are currently studying, conducting research, or teaching in the United States, and 35 Americans are doing the same in Jordan.