Jordan News

Al-Hurra TV published an extensive report on the recent rapprochement in the file of Jordanian-Syrian relations, and the meetings and visits that this relationship witnessed at the level of prominent Syrian ministers, such as Defense Minister General Ali Ayoub yesterday to Amman, and before him Energy Minister Bassam Tohme.

With the withdrawal of the report, the common interest is what drives both Amman and Damascus to rapprochement and restore warmth to relations and work to strengthen them through the gateway of common security, commercial and economic interests.

Following is the text of the report:

The sensitivity of the security movements in the Syrian territories adjacent to the Jordanian borders is heightened, especially since the field situation has changed in Daraa, which raises the concern of Jordan, which does not want the presence of Shiite militias loyal to Iran near its territory

This may explain the timing of the meeting of the Syrian Defense Minister, General Ali Ayoub, with the Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Youssef Hunaiti, on Sunday, in the capital, Amman, according to experts.

Syrian-Russian patrols in Daraa

But the security file, despite its importance between the two neighbors, is not the only one in the long search. Rather, the economy, the crossings, and other files may be urgent for both sides.

The Jordanian expert in security affairs, Fayez Al-Duwairi, says that “Jordan wants to open the border crossings, keep the Shiite militias away from the borders, and secure the gas pipeline, while Syria wants to open up to the Arab countries, through the Jordanian gate, in addition to security coordination.”

The regime controls Daraa after gunmen handed over their weapons in accordance with an agreement with the notables of the region.

However, the Jordanian political analyst, Oraib Al-Rantawi, believes that “there are not many indications of a new approach in dealing with the Syrian file, whether it is from the Jordanian side or even from the world powers.”

A Jordanian approach with two assumptions

Al-Rantawi added that King Abdullah II presented a new approach in dealing with the Syrian file, which he discussed during his meetings with US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said that the Jordanian approach is based on two assumptions: the first is that efforts for a political solution are completely suspended, and the second is that no one speaks the language of regime change, and that what is happening prolongs the conflict and increases the burdens on the Syrian people.

Syrian political analyst, Sherif Shehadeh, says that Jordanian-Syrian relations “have always gone through stages, sometimes good, and sometimes not so good.”

He added that “Jordan’s political position towards Syria has also changed over the past years, after the view was towards Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he lacked legitimacy, the picture has changed now, and he is dealing with Syria as if Bashar is staying in it.”

Shehadeh believes that the capital, Amman, has fully realized that “there is no alternative to dealing with President al-Assad, and that the Kingdom should be afraid of what might happen to it as it happened in neighboring countries.”

security file

Al-Duwairi, in turn, indicated that the security context in this visit “may be the most dangerous among all the files that were discussed, especially those related to the borders and the files associated with them, such as the presence of Shiite militias near the Jordanian borders.”

Shehadeh said that the main files discussed by the two sides focused on the security aspect, “where the recent events in Daraa were discussed, and Jordan’s refusal to assist any of the terrorist groups or interfere in what is happening in this area adjacent to the Jordanian border.”

Shehadeh stressed that this meeting comes as “an affirmation of strategic security cooperation, especially in light of Jordan’s openness towards Syria, and the change in the map of countries that refuse to cooperate with Syria, as there is a breakthrough in relations with Egypt, Algeria and many international organizations.”

Al-Rantawi believes that there is a need for Jordan to deal with the Syrian regime regarding the southern Syrian regions, as “Oman does not want to deal with sectarian militias or international forces, and for this we did not see any interference by Jordan in the recent Daraa events, as Amman wants Damascus to impose its security control in these areas.” Regions”

Shehadeh says that the coming period will witness “a map of new alliances in the region, in which the unity of Syrian relations will be emphasized, and that what is happening within a new work organization governs the interactions of neighboring countries on the one hand, and the countries of the region on the other.”

Al-Rantawi believes that Jordan wants from this file, “economic openness to Damascus, and facilitating the export of gas and electricity to Lebanon, which cannot happen without the participation of the Syrian side.”

He said that Syria “desires to open up more to Jordan, as it could become its gateway to return to the bosom of the Arab League after more than a decade of isolation.”

Al-Rantawi added, “That is why we witnessed ministerial meetings at the level of energy ministers during the last period, followed by the visit of the Syrian Minister of Defense, which may form the nucleus for Syria’s entry into the new Levant project launched by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, where Syria and Lebanon will be important elements to complete this project. ”

Syria wants economic and political openness, and opening ports to economic, commercial and agricultural exchange, and perhaps Jordan may succeed in taking exceptions from Caesar’s Law, which imposes sanctions on dealing with Syria, especially since the regime remains and continues, according to Al-Rantawi.

The Syrian Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Bassam Tohme visited Jordan in early September and agreed with the energy ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon on a road map for transporting Egyptian gas by land to Lebanon, which is mired in its worst economic crisis.

Jordan is considered among the few Arab countries that maintained its relations and contacts with Syria after the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011. However, these contacts were limited.

Al-Duwairi says, for his part, that Jordan’s position “changes according to circumstances and facts, as in 2014, Bashar al-Assad was seen as lacking legitimacy, but his steadfastness throughout this period means the unwillingness of regional powers to change him, and the absence of an alternative to him, which is what made the Kingdom Recalculate at the moment.”

The Kingdom hosts about 650,000 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations, while Amman estimates the number of those who have sought refuge in Jordan since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria at about 1.3 million.