jordan pulse -

Dr. Mahmoud Awad Al-Dabbas

King Abdullah’s visit to the European Union this week resulted in two major achievements—one economic and one political. Economically, he oversaw the signing of a €3 billion economic partnership agreement between Jordan and the EU, spanning 2025–2027. This move came as a swift response to the U.S. decision to suspend its annual aid to Jordan for three months—a pressure tactic used by Washington, similar to Trump's past strategy of politically leveraging aid.

Politically, the EU partnership also bolsters Jordan’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European vision for resolving the conflict aligns increasingly with Jordan's and diverges from the American approach. One key difference is land designation: the EU supports a Palestinian state on contiguous territory, while past U.S. policy has emphasized connected land, which allows for settlements and bypass roads that fracture Palestinian territorial unity. Additionally, unlike the U.S. Republican stance, the EU has never advocated for Palestinian displacement and continues supporting UNRWA and Palestinian refugees.

The EU’s political shift is further evident in the growing recognition of Palestine: four EU nations have officially recognized Palestine, with nine more signaling future recognition, potentially raising the total to 13 out of 27 EU states. Globally, 146 out of 193 UN members now recognize Palestine. The EU also rejected Trump’s 2017 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s unified capital, refusing to follow Washington’s lead.

King Abdullah’s move is not an anti-U.S. pivot but a strategy to balance American influence with international backing. The EU’s growing alignment with Palestinian demands, compared to Washington’s staunchly pro-Israel stance, makes it a key player in countering Trump’s vision. Jordan’s regional coordination with Egypt and Turkey—both of whom have peace treaties with Israel—adds further weight to this diplomatic front. However, an internal Palestinian consensus remains the missing piece in this emerging coalition.

In the past three weeks, King Abdullah has positioned Jordan as a cornerstone in an international alliance opposing Trump’s approach to Palestine. This newfound backing strengthens Jordan’s hand in future negotiations with Washington, reducing its vulnerability to U.S. economic pressure and allowing it to assert its own vision for Jordan and Palestine’s future.