Jordan seeks foothold in new Syria to boost economy and secure borders
Soon after rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria last month, Jordan took immediate action.
Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi was among the first high-ranking officials to meet Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus within days of the government change.
Earlier this week, a Syrian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, flew to Amman for further talks, which included discussions with security officials.
A wide range of issues were on the table, including border security, drug smuggling, energy supply, trade, and the return of Syrian refugees.
Following the meeting, Safadi announced the formation of joint committees with Syria to address these concerns.
The ongoing visits highlight how both countries, which share a 378 km-long border, view their cooperation as critical, according to political analyst Monther al-Hawarat.
'With Syria’s economy in ruins, Jordan will play a critical role in supporting the reconstruction of institutions and providing essential energy'
- Monther al-Hawarat, political analyst
For Damascus, Amman can assist in lobbying for the lifting of sanctions, which would help revive the economy.
On the other hand, Jordan sees Syria’s reconstruction as a potential economic opportunity, generating investment, trade, jobs, and boosting its export and logistics sectors.
“With Syria’s economy in ruins, Jordan will play a critical role in supporting the reconstruction of institutions and providing essential energy,” Hawarat told Middle East Eye.
In addition to mutual economic benefit, Jordan will also be invested in helping stabilise Syria, he explained.
“Jordan will play a role in convincing the international community to support the new governance structure,” he added.
“It will also have a role in rehabilitating Syrian leaders who were previously listed as terrorists."
Economic opportunities
Since the onset of Syria’s civil war in 2011, the border crossing between the two nations has been frequently closed, with the first closure in 2015 lasting three years.
Trade between the two countries had also been in decline, dropping from $617m in 2010 to $146.6m in 2023, primarily due to regional tensions.
However, Amman has now taken several steps to reverse these setbacks.
Earlier this week, the establishment of a new inland port in the border city of Mafraq was announced to facilitate reconstruction projects.
This port will serve as a logistics hub, facilitating the transport of materials and equipment to Syria, further cementing Jordan's role as a key player in the region's supply chain.
Read More »Economic researcher and energy affairs specialist Amer Shobaki explained that Jordan’s competitive advantages will make it an ideal partner for Syria's reconstruction and its essential needs.
"Jordan offers cost-effective and secure transportation, making it the most efficient option for transporting goods and services to Syria," Shobaki told MEE.
Additionally, Jordan has the necessary construction materials and technical expertise to support Syria’s infrastructure rebuilding.
Shobaki also emphasised that Jordanian agricultural products and essential commodities can effectively and sustainably meet Syria’s market demands.
Jordan is also looking to contribute to Syria’s energy sector by supplying electricity and helping to rehabilitate its damaged power grids.
Last week, Jordan said it was ready to supply Syria with approximately 250 megawatts of electricity.
This initiative could eventually extend electricity supplies to Lebanon, which have been restricted due to the US Caesar Act sanctions on entities dealing with the Assad government also hitting Lebanon's economy.
Shobaki stressed the importance of Jordan pushing for exemptions from international sanctions, including the Caesar Act, to capitalise on this new opportunity.
"Such exemptions would pave the way for broader trade and service cooperation between the two countries and represent a step towards the permanent lifting of sanctions on Syria," Shobaki said.
Security challenges
High on Jordan’s agenda in recent years has been the issue of weapons and drug smuggling across the border from Syria.
During his visit to Amman, Syria’s Shaibani stated that this was now a thing of the past.
But retired Jordanian Air Force major general and military analyst, Mamoun Abu Nuwar, thinks restoring and maintaining border security is easier said than done.
'Which army would Jordan train? Would it be Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham?'
- Mamoun Abu Nuwar, military analyst
Although Jordan previously hosted training programmes for Syrian opposition groups in collaboration with western countries, these were limited in scope and duration. The target groups were the US-backed factions in southern Syria.
Engaging with other armed groups will be more complex, says Abu Nuwar, particularly given the presence of multiple factions in northern and southern Syria.
"Which army would Jordan train?" he questioned.
"Would it be Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)? HTS controls major cities, while the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold vast areas. In the south, factions like the Druze also operate."
Nevertheless, Abu Nuwar acknowledged that Syrians could benefit from training provided by the Jordanian military, given Amman’s accepted status in the West due to its alignment with Nato policies.
Read More »While he accepted that Jordan might play a partial role in training, he believes overall supervision would likely fall to Turkey.
Ahead of the Syrian delegation's visit, Jordan sent a delegation to Turkey, currently a key ally of the new administration in Damascus. The delegation included Jordanian Army Chief General Yousef al-Hunaiti, Intelligence Chief Major General Ahmed Hosni, and Foreign Minister Safadi.
Abu Nuwar saw this visit as strategically important for Jordan’s access to Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed this, saying, "Turkey has been in continuous coordination with Jordan since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria."
However, Abu Nuwar stated that the rehabilitation of Syrian armed forces would take time.
"This would require time, especially to establish a structural framework for the army, particularly for HTS under Ahmed al-Sharaa, and to train border guards to control smuggling operations," he added.
