Syria and Jordan are working to strengthen their relations following deadly airstrikes. Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Foreign Minister, emphasized the importance of the close ties between the two countries during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims, stating: "Syrian blood is as valuable to us as Jordanian blood." This meeting reflects an effort to navigate a rare diplomatic test for Damascus and Amman, which have expanded their political, economic, and security cooperation since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, the former President of Syria, in December 2024.
Strengthening Economic and Security Cooperation
Faisal Mekdad, Syria's Foreign Minister, announced during this meeting that bilateral relations are currently at their strongest point in decades. The two countries signed 11 cooperation documents during this visit, which include investment, civilian aviation, food security, cloud seeding in the Yarmouk River basin, and a proposed rail connection between Saudi Arabia and Turkey through Jordan and Syria. Trade volume between the two countries nearly tripled last year, reaching $330 million, and 20 out of 22 Syrian ministries are now directly cooperating with Jordan.
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Countering Common Security Threats
Ayman Safadi also stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in combating drug trafficking, which is a long-standing security concern along their shared border. He affirmed Jordan's support for Syria against Israeli attacks and called for international intervention to prevent escalating tensions in the region.
The Syrian Foreign Minister also emphasized that his country has not deployed any forces to Yemen and has no plans for such a deployment. These statements came after Yemeni sources reported information regarding the presence of Syrian forces in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Mekdad stated in a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart: "There is no plan to deploy forces in Yemen, and any military plans abroad will be announced publicly and will not be conducted in secrecy."
He also highlighted the importance of a recent agreement with Saudi Arabia, which is a key supporter of Damascus in its efforts to rebuild the country after more than a decade of civil war, stating: "We need Saudi expertise in building the capacities of Syrians and are willing to collaborate in the defense industry and at the scientific level as well."
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