Jordan’s King Abdullah to Meet With Trump as Arab Anxiety Mounts Over Gaza Resettlement Proposal

Following the onslaught in southern Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, Jordan’s King Abdullah II quickly declared that any attempt to resettle Gaza residents in the Hashemite Kingdom would constitute a “red line.” Now, as Abdullah arrives for a meeting with Donald Trump on February 11 — making him the first Arab leader to meet with the U.S. president since his inauguration last month — he faces an administration actively pushing a proposal that crosses that same red line.

Jordan’s objections to accepting an influx of 1.8 million Gazans are long established. East Bank Jordanians, largely tribal, see the arrival of more Palestinians as heralding Jordan’s transformation into a Palestinian state, while Palestinian Jordanians, the majority of the population, view it as a betrayal of their “right of return.” Abdullah is expected to tell Trump that the resettlement proposal “is a recipe for radicalism that will spread chaos through the Middle East, jeopardize the Kingdom’s peace with Israel and even threaten the country’s very survival,” according to senior Jordanian officials. Former Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher explained this stance in stark terms. “This is not an economic or a security issue for Jordan, it’s an identity issue,” he told Reuters.

Trump has nevertheless insisted that both Jordan and Egypt are on board with his proposal. “We do a lot for them, and they’re gonna do it,” he stated on January 31.

Countering Iranian Encroachment on the West Bank

Added to these tensions is a broader concern regarding the security risks arising from accepting a population sympathetic to Hamas, which has a history of hostility toward the Hashemite monarchy. Destabilizing efforts that Hamas might embark upon include inciting protests and enabling Gazans to access Jordan’s extensive frontier with Israel, which is being mooted as the site of a security fence to curb these threats.  

Israel’s 300-mile border with Jordan, much of it unpatrolled, has become a key battleground in Iran’s efforts to arm its proxies in the West Bank. The Jordanian-Israeli security partnership in countering Iran’s regional ambitions is critical in this regard. Despite the straining of diplomatic ties between Amman and Jerusalem during the war in Gaza, security cooperation between the two nations remains vital and should ideally be strengthened. The king will likely emphasize Jordan’s efforts in curbing smuggling operations into the West Bank, aided by Israeli cooperation.

However, as Iranian influence wanes in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, Tehran may well intensify support for terrorist organizations in the West Bank. Recognizing this looming threat, Trump may demand that Jordan deepen its security coordination with Israel to maintain stability on the border.

Foreign Aid

The Trump administration’s decision to pause foreign aid under Executive Order 14169 will have a significant impact on Jordan, which, along with Israel and Egypt, is one of the top three recipients of American aid. While the freeze is set for 90 days to reassess fund distribution, Abdullah is likely to highlight its immediate effect on Jordan’s security.

In September 2022, the United States and Jordan signed a seven-year memorandum of understanding committing $1.45 billion in annual aid. Jordan also hosts U.S. troops across multiple bases.

Washington’s Priorities in This Meeting

In keeping with the 2022 memorandum, Trump should focus on bolstering Jordan’s ties with Israel as a foundation for regional stability, normalization efforts, and countering Iran, as well as integrating the kingdom into the “Abraham Accords.” Jordan should also be encouraged to avoid inflammatory public rhetoric against Israel. Additionally, Trump will need to make solid commitments on the aid front if Abdullah is to even consider abandoning his red line.  

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.