Jordan–Syria relations

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.

Jordan-Syria relations

Jordan	Syria

Proposals to unify Jordan and Syria

Main articles: Damascus Protocol, Syrian Social Nationalist Party, and Fertile Crescent Plan

History

1921 to 1946

Zones of French and British influence and control established by the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916

Jordanian interest in Syria began in 1921, when the founder of the Emirate of Transjordan, Abdallah, sought to advance into Syria, from which his brother had been expelled by the French, and which he regarded as part of the promised Hashemite kingdom.

Even as late as 1946, when both countries gained independence, King Abdallah did not abandon his plan to become king of Syria. Syria considered Abdallah's schemes for an expanded Hashimite kingdom as intervention in its domestic affairs and officially complained to the Arab League.

1960 to 1979

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.

The October 1973 War against Israel resulted in a gradual improvement in relations, as Jordan contributed to the Syrian military effort; 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.

The 1980s

This charge led to new tension in December 1980, with military forces of both sides deployed along the border. As a counterweight to Syria, Jordan improved its relations with Iraq, and became one of its primary suppliers. In 1981 Jordan accused Syria of being behind the kidnapping of the Jordanian military attaché in Beirut and charged Rifaat al-Assad, President Assad's brother, with masterminding a plot to assassinate the Jordanian prime minister. By the mid-1980s, rapprochement efforts were again underway.

1990-2011

After the first Gulf War, relations between Jordan and Syria had improved. After the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty, in which Jordan established diplomatic ties with Israel, becoming the only Arab country other than Egypt to do so, Jordan has been an important transit point for Syrian businessmen doing business in the Palestinian territories.

Syrian Civil War

Further information: Spillover of the Syrian Civil War and Jordanian–Syrian border incidents during the Syrian Civil War

In 2012, relations became somewhat strained due to the Syrian civil war; reports emerged of Jordanian forces clashing with Syrian forces along the border.

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. Jordan was also alleged to have been working with Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Israel in an attempt to curb Iranian involvement in Syria.

On 28 July 2012, Jordan opened the Zaatari refugee camp east of Mafraq to host Syrian refugees.

On 30 April 2014, the Azraq refugee camp opened near Azraq.

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."

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.

Although Jordan initially supported the moderate rebel coalition known as the Southern Front, it later pressured the United States to freeze the CIA's armament support for them. 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.

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.

2020s

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. They discussed bilateral relations after Amman fully opened borders with Syria.

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. In addition, the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi visited Damascus for the first time since the start of the Syrian Civil War.

See also

• Battle of Maysalun (1920) between Syria and France
• Bilad ash-Sham or Greater Syria
• Fertile Crescent Plan
• Foreign relations of Jordan
• Foreign relations of Syria
• Jordan–Syria border
• Levant Quartet (2010), economic & cultural partnership between Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan
• Sykes-Picot Agreement: UK and France plan spheres of influence in Levant during WWI

Further reading

• "Repairing Jordanian-Syrian relations". Jordan Times. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.