Compass – The United States of America has approved Jordan’s request for 12 F-16C Block 70 combat aircraft along with military hardware represented by a radio targeting pod, and associated ammunition components, including guided missile tail kits.

As Jordanian military analysts have told, these aircraft are considered more advanced than the traditional “F16” (ABD), which is one of the fifth generation fighters capable of destroying air defenses and combat missions in the air, in addition to the ability to target from long distances.

achieve deterrence

Retired Major General Mamoun Abu Nawar says that “these C-class aircraft are ahead of the D-class aircraft owned by Jordan, and they are among the best generations of the F-16 because they possess advanced radar, electronic systems, and great capabilities in air and ground combat, which are capabilities of Important for any air force to achieve deterrence, and cover any potential threats in the future.”

Abu Nowar believes that providing Jordan with this advanced type comes “to confront the Iranian threat in the region and fight terrorism, as Jordan is a partner that must be given appropriate deterrence, with stipulations that it should not be used against America’s allies in the region.”

Who will finance this deal?

The US State Department announced that the aircraft deal was fully funded by the US government through the Foreign Military Financing Grant. The Department of Political and Military Affairs in the ministry said in a tweet via Twitter that this deal, amounting to $4.21 billion, aims to invest in strengthening a vital partner of the United States.

Developed relations under the Biden government

The former American diplomat, Mufid Al-Deek, believes that this grant comes as part of a set of initiatives by the Biden government to Jordan, including raising the value of US aid to Jordan. He told Arabi21: “It is a message that America will provide all support to the Kingdom, because Jordan is a strategic ally, unlike What was the Trump administration looking at? Biden sees Jordan as a reliable and strategic ally, and the administration will provide additional financial, military, and political assistance.

He continued, “The Biden administration believes that Jordan is a very important country that must be preserved and provided with all possible assistance to continue its important role in this region. It is a country that has the longest border with Israel in addition to its good relations with the Arab countries. This administration has a vote of confidence in the throne.” Jordan, and I expect that Biden will continue to provide the necessary aid to him, and it amounted to 1.600 billion last year.”

The US-Jordanian relations were tense due to differences with the Trump administration over the Palestinian file, which is considered a strategic file for Jordan, which hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees, and is the guardian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

The king strongly opposed former President Donald Trump’s peace plan in the Middle East, or what was known as the “Deal of the Century,” which the Gulf Arab states were involved in, as he saw it as a threat to Jordan’s national security and that it would also undermine the Hashemite guardianship of Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem.

Jordan is a strategic partner of the United States

And the United States delivered to Jordan 12 new “Black Hawk” helicopters in 2018 to enhance stability in Jordan, while the value of American aid during the past five years amounted to 6.5 billion Americans, according to the website of the American Embassy in Amman.

In a speech at the beginning of this year, US Ambassador to Jordan Henry Wooster reiterated his country’s support for Jordan, saying: “Together, both countries will continue to take the necessary measures to enhance stability and achieve prosperity for the people of this region.”

It is noteworthy that this aid comes within the memorandum of understanding that was signed on February 14, 2018, between the United States and Jordan, in which the United States committed to providing $1.275 billion annually in bilateral foreign aid over a period of five years, with a total value of $6.375 billion. Jordan will renew this agreement at the end of the year amid expectations of raising the value of aid.

A political analyst specializing in American and Israeli affairs, Daoud Kuttab, reveals “American-Jordanian equipment to build a base in the northeast in Jordan, which requires the development of the Jordanian Air Force with advanced aircraft that are only available on the Israeli side.”