Jordan and Syria signed more than 20 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding on Sunday, marking a significant step toward restoring strategic ties that had been frozen since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
Jordanian diplomacy has dealt pragmatically with restoring relations with Damascus after years of rupture caused by the war, which ended with the fall of the former Syrian regime and the departure of Bashar al-Assad to Moscow in late 2024.
Meetings of the second session of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council, held in Amman, reflected an advanced stage of renewed cooperation across a range of bilateral issues and a shared desire to achieve mutual economic gains.
A Jordanian government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks, chaired by the two countries’ foreign ministers, resulted in the signing of more than 20 agreements and memorandums covering economic and key strategic projects. The source said the outcome demonstrated “the Syrian side’s seriousness in pursuing a genuine partnership with Jordan.”
The meetings take on added importance amid regional security, military and economic repercussions stemming from the ongoing conflict between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other, as countries increasingly search for alternative trade routes to secure supply chains for goods and energy.
Jordan views its border with Syria as a gateway for exports to Türkiye and Europe, while Damascus sees Jordan as a safe corridor for its goods to Gulf countries.
Strategically, the cooperation is expected to support major projects such as electricity interconnection and a planned railway link that Jordan is preparing to launch in the near future. It also includes restoring Jordan’s water rights, which, according to sources, had been curtailed by the former Syrian authorities for around four decades.
Security remains a shared concern for both countries. During the Syrian conflict, Jordan bore the burden of securing its 375-kilometer border alone after southern Syria descended into instability due to the activity of militias and armed factions of various affiliations.
Officials say that progress on economic partnerships depends on maintaining stability in southern Syria. Jordan continues to support security efforts there, including closely monitoring smuggling activity and responding to threats along the border.
At a joint news conference on Sunday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani said defense and security coordination had made “significant progress” in addressing shared challenges, including drug and arms smuggling and attempts to undermine stability.
Safadi said the two sides had agreed on a joint roadmap aimed at reinforcing stability in Sweida and southern Syria.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed support for Syria’s efforts to preserve security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity during a meeting with the visiting Syrian ministerial delegation. Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II was also present.
The king stressed the need to continue developing economic and trade relations and strengthening security cooperation in a way that serves mutual interests. He described the council’s second session as an important step toward advancing ties and called for effective implementation of the agreements reached.
The council covers 20 key sectors and aims to elevate Jordanian-Syrian relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Discussions addressed cooperation opportunities in water, transport and energy, with the king highlighting the importance of regional integration and joint Arab projects to enhance cooperation.
Safadi said the meetings reflected the political will of King Abdullah and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to strengthen bilateral relations and build an integrated strategic partnership.
He described the gathering as “the largest Jordanian-Syrian meeting in history,” noting that more than 30 ministers took part. He said agreements and memorandums had been signed and cooperation discussed across more than 21 sectors.
Safadi reiterated Jordan’s support for Syria’s reconstruction and its sovereignty over all its territory, describing the current moment as “historic” for Syria. He said Jordan would stand by Syria throughout the rebuilding process.
He also condemned what he described as Israeli actions undermining Syria’s security and called for continued joint efforts to confront shared challenges and threats.
For his part, Shaibani described Jordan as a “strategic partner” for his country. He said reconstruction in Syria would require between $250 billion and $400 billion, stressing the need for cooperation with Jordan and regional countries to address those needs.
