Jordan (Washington Insider) – Jordan’s Maj. Gen. Yousef
Huneiti met Canada’s Maj. Gen. Timothy Arsenault to expand defence ties,
including joint training, logistics, and regional security cooperation between
both militaries.
As Steven Ganot on the Medialine News reported, Jordan’s top
military commander, Major General Yousef Huneiti, met on Wednesday, Dec 17,
2025, with Major General Timothy Arsenault, deputy commander of Canada’s Joint
Operations Command. The meeting took place at the Jordan Armed Forces General
Command headquarters.
Canada’s ambassador to Jordan and senior Jordanian officers
also attended. The talks focused on ways to strengthen defence cooperation.
Both sides discussed joint training programs, improving logistics, and other
military partnerships. They emphasised the importance of readiness and
coordination between Jordanian and Canadian forces.
How are Jordan and
Canada strengthening military cooperation in Amman?
Jordan has long presented its armed forces as a stabilising
force in a region marked by conflict and security challenges. The country
shares borders with Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Iraq, and SaudiArabia. In recent years, Jordan has strengthened its focus on counterterrorism,
border security, and military preparedness. Officials say these steps are necessary as threats along the
borders continue to change and grow. The Jordanian military is recognised for
its discipline and for helping maintain stability across the region.
Canada maintains an active international defence role. Its
forces participate in coalition operations and training missions in the MiddleEast and other
regions. During a meeting in Amman, Major General Yousef Huneiti
highlighted the strong military ties between Jordan and Canada. He stressed the
importance of sharing expertise to improve readiness against common security
challenges.
Major General Timothy Arsenault praised Jordan for its role
in regional stability and supported expanding defence cooperation. The
discussions focused on practical cooperation, including joint planning,
professional development, and building interoperability.
For many years, Jordan and Canada have worked together on
many different aspects of defence and security. This cooperation has included
various projects through military training initiatives.
In December 2017, Canada announced its intention to aid
Jordan’s security; this support will include building and refurbishing a
military supply route on Jordan’s northern border with Syria, thus offering
support to the Jordanian Armed Forces by enhancing their ability to react more
efficiently to ongoing threats they may experience from outside of their own
country.
In April 2019, the Border Road Project was officially
inaugurated, and by February 2020, this project was completed. In July 2021,
Canada also provided support in helping to refurbish and renovate 11 individual
Border Towers located on Jordan’s border with Syria.
All upgrades on these towers improved the overall
fortifications available to Jordan’s armed forces. Additionally, through the above-referenced
military training related to Jordan’s Border Guards and Infrastructure, Canada
has provided funds to enhance the defensive capability available to the Border
Guards and has funded upgrades of the Border Guards’ Infrastructure.
In July 2025, Canada will again be providing Jordan with a
funding package of $28.4 million to further enhance Jordan’s ability to provide
defence, border security and counter terrorism capacity needs, building upon
many years of continued military partnerships as well as efforts to strengthen
regional stability.
