Trump exempts Jordan from US foreign aid cuts
Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump has decided to exempt Jordan from the wide-ranging foreign aid cuts he announced last January, affirming continued support for the kingdom with annual funding of no less than USD 1.45 billion, including military assistance and direct budget support.
According to more than 20 sources who spoke to Reuters, this decision came after an intensive round of diplomatic negotiations between Amman and Washington, which helped restore the flow of aid within just two months of the cut announcement—placing Jordan, as described by the sources, on a 'more solid financial footing' despite the initial shock.
Jordan ranks fourth among the top recipients of US aid, after Ukraine, Tel Aviv, and Ethiopia—reflecting the strength of the strategic relationship between the two countries, particularly in regional security and intelligence cooperation, in addition to hosting US forces under a defense treaty.
The Aqaba-Amman desalination project, overseen by CDM Smith under a contract with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), had its funding frozen before payments resumed this past March, according to four informed sources. The project, valued at around USD 6 billion, is considered one of the kingdom's most vital initiatives for achieving water security.
Although part of the aid allocated to the education and health sectors—estimated at USD 430 million annually—remains frozen, researchers and experts confirmed that Washington was careful to protect funding related to security, defense, and water due to its strategic importance.
In this context, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that Jordan's military aid had not been affected and praised Jordan's role as a strong partner in the region.
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