Jordan’s economy is on the brink of collapse — here’s how the US can help

Excerpt

Jordan is a dependable U.S. ally in a region where reliability is scarce. Jordan promotes religious tolerance, hosts U.S. forces, and cares for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. It punches well above its weight in terms of geopolitical role.

Its economy, however, leaves something to be desired.

Ask any Jordanian how the economy is going, and you will hear the word “zift” — an Arabic slang expression that means “crap.” It is a bitter shorthand for high inflation, low growth, and heavy taxes. As Jordan’s largest donor and strategic partner, the U.S. has the tools to help reformers in Jordan seize opportunities and shift the country’s economic trajectory.

Daniel Swift is a senior research analyst for economics, finance, and trade for the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is a retired U.S. diplomat who served in Jordan from June 2019 to July 2023.