Jordan Wins U.S. Aid Exemption for Key Projects
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Hashim Sheikh
- . May 1, 2025
- . Update: May 1, 2025 5:07 pm
Jordan has managed to negotiate quite a carve-out from the foreign aid cuts laid down by President Donald Trump in January of 2025. Through some shrewd diplomacy, the Kingdom has kept its prized aid-almost $1.45 billion a year-safe and sound. This includes $850 million for direct budgetary support and equipment and training for military assistance, whereas almost non-strategic programs like health and education are frozen.
Restoration of assistance was led by a spate of high-ranking meetings between Jordanian leaders and U.S. officials, who affirmed this in an almost privately held meeting of sorts where President Trump assured King Abdullah that aid will not be used as leverage in political negotiations. Moreover, Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood in April, seeking efforts towards a more stable region.
Other than U.S. aid, Jordan is attempting to diversify sources of aid and has received $3 billion from the E.U., $1.1 billion from the World Bank, and assistance from Gulf countries and the Arab Fund. Domestically, over $100 million has been raised by Amman with the help of the private sector. Experts, therefore, conclude that Jordan’s diplomatic endeavors have preserved critical U.S. backing while also creating a substantial amount of alternative funding and thus are contributing to holding the country’s economic life in steadiness.