Jordan, US sign $3bn aid programme

The Jordanian government, on the sidelines of the visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to Washington signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States (U.S.) government, through which the U.S. offers, within its annual support program to the Kingdom, aid worth US$1 billion annually for the period 2015 to 2017, in economic, developmental and military fields.
His Majesty cut short his visit yesterday following the death of the heroic pilot Muath Al Kasasbeh.
The MoU was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, Nasser Judeh, and his US counterpart John Kerry.
This program comes within the strategic partnership between the two countries, and the US commitment to provide Jordan with fixed levels of support over the next three years. It also aims to strengthen ties between the two countries, and serve the common interests in the region, support Jordan's economic and development capabilities and programs.
In a joint statement after the signing ceremony, Judeh described the relationship between Jordan and the U.S. as important and fundamental for peace and security in the Middle East.
He said, "We are proud that the relationship between the two countries goes beyond friendship to partnership, especially in countering regional and global challenges, and today's MoU is a new cornerstone in the strategic relationship and partnership that will continue to grow and prosper." In turn, Kerry said, "Jordan is facing today risks and challenges of terrorist organizations and hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees, which require increased aid, as the Memorandum of Understanding stated." He noted that the MoU included raising U.S. annual aid to Jordan to US$1 billion annually for the years 2015 to 2017, compared to $600 million annually in the previous aid program, covering several programs in the areas of economic support, technical and security assistance, as well as health, education services, energy security, and services targeting Syrians and Iraqi refugees, in addition to loan guarantees, which boosted Jordan's ability to access the global financial market.