Jordan’s close security relationship with the United States has made the kingdom a focal point for Iranian military attacks, according to regional analysts and government officials. The country hosts American military personnel and contractors across multiple installations, making it a strategic hub for U.S. operations in the Middle East. However, this alliance has come with consequences, as hundreds of drone and missile strikes have targeted Jordanian military bases in recent operations.
The Hashemite Kingdom faces mounting pressures beyond the Iranian threat. The economy has weakened under the burden of hosting millions of refugees displaced by regional conflicts, while soaring energy prices and inflation have strained public finances. The tourism sector, historically important to the economy, struggles to recover. Additionally, escalating Israeli settler violence in the neighboring West Bank concerns Jordanian leadership, who worry that increased instability could trigger mass Palestinian migration into Jordan, straining resources further.
King Abdullah II, who assumed the throne in 1999, has deepened security ties with Washington as a central pillar of his strategy to protect the kingdom from regional threats. A 2021 defense-cooperation agreement between Amman and Washington grants U.S. forces access to 12 military installations. The NATO alliance established its first regional liaison office in Jordan in 2025. Jordan has provided logistical support and intelligence for U.S. military operations, including the 2003 Iraq invasion and ongoing anti-terrorism campaigns.
Jordanian officials maintain their commitment to the Western alliance despite the risks. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that Iran has posed threats to the region independently of recent conflicts, asserting that Jordan exercises its sovereignty in choosing its security partnerships. Military experts note that the kingdom’s geographic position offers strategic depth valuable to U.S. interests, though this prominence also makes it vulnerable to Iranian retaliation. U.S. military estimates suggest at least 8 percent of Jordan’s annual budget derives from American grants and support.
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