Syria, Jordan forge security partnership to tackle border threats, boost cooperation

Syria and Jordan have reached an agreement to establish a joint security committee aimed at ensuring the safety of their shared border.

The announcement was made by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi during a joint press conference following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, in Amman, Caliber.Az reports per Syrian media.

The top Jordanian diplomat said: "We discussed the issue of the border, the dangers of drugs, weapons and terrorism, and attempts by Daesh to reestablish a presence", using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

"We will work together to confront these shared challenges," Safadi said, noting the establishment of joint committees on energy, health, trade and water resources.

"Jordan will always stand" with Syria, whose people "deserve a free homeland after years of hardships", he added.

Al Safadi highlighted that the discussions primarily focused on border security concerns, including the threats posed by arms and drug smuggling, as well as the resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization. He stated that the security of both Syria and Jordan is interconnected and that the two nations would coordinate their efforts to address these challenges effectively.

In response, al-Shaibani underscored that the new phase in Syria’s history has eliminated security threats to Jordan, adding that the Syrian government is fully prepared for extensive cooperation in tackling these security issues.

Shaibani, who was travelling with Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, expressed his hope for warm ties between the two countries.

He also asked for Jordan's help in lifting international sanctions on Syria, imposed during the rule of president Bashar al-Assad who was toppled by Islamist-led forces last month.

He said a decision announced by the US Treasury to ease some sanctions for an initial six-month period was a "breakthrough" that could pave the way for the lifting of all sanctions and allow Syrians to rebuild their country.

"Syria will become a source of security, stability and cooperation with its neighbours and the countries of the region," Shaibani said.

Safadi has already visited Damascus since Assad's fall, meeting in late December with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Jordan, one of only a handful of Arab countries to keep its embassy in Damascus open throughout the civil war since 2011, also hosted an international summit on Syria on December 14, less than a week after Assad was deposed.

By Vafa Guliyeva