Jordan (Washington Insider) – Jordan faces northern
border threats from smuggling and instability in southern Syria, especially
Sweida. Experts Abu Zeid, Muath Abu Dalou, Sheikat, and al-Daja stress strong
border control, a unified Syria, and international cooperation.
As Huaxia on English News reported, Jordan continues
to face security challenges along its northern border, even though authorities
have strengthened control in recent years. Nidal Abu Zeid, a Jordanian military
and strategic analyst, told Xinhua that smuggling networks have adapted to
these changes.
“The geographic nature of the border between Jordan,
Syria, and Iraq, which extends across rugged and sparsely populated terrain,
makes full control a continuous challenge,”
Abu Zeid said.
What threats does
Jordan face on its northern border amid Syria’s transition?
Officials mentioned that they now use smaller, isolated, and
uncoordinated operations. These attempts are harder to predict but still pose a
threat to border communities. Abu Zeid said that even though the smuggling is
less organised than before.
“The continued activity of smugglers and armed
groups requires Jordan to maintain a high level of vigilance,”
Abu Zeid said.
Jordan’s security is closely linked to developments in
southern Syria, analysts say. Public law professor and political analyst Muath
Abu Dalou told Xinhua that Jordan is watching events across the border
carefully. The 2 countries share around 375 kilometres of frontier, and any
instability in Syria could affect Jordan directly.
Jordanian security experts have warned
that instability in southern Syria could continue to affect the kingdom’s
northern border. Areas such as Sweida remain a concern for officials. Khaled
Shneikat, head of the Jordanian Association for Political Science, said that
“Jordan’s fundamental interest lies in a unified
Syria.”
“A single central authority enables effective
security cooperation and limits reliance on informal armed groups,”
Sheikat told Xinhua.
Professor Hassan al-Daja of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University
asserts that the future stability of southern Syria is dependent upon the
establishment of a unified Syrian state. The establishment of a viable Syrian
government that can regulate its own borders will aid in decreasing the
criminal networks and threats that arise across international borders.
Furthermore, Nidal Abu Zeid cited the importance of regional
cooperatives and international collaboration as well. Military analysts from
the region have alluded to Jordan’s commitment to establishing diplomatic
relations with Syria and the cooperation that exists between the 5 countries,
along with establishing political, economic, and security mechanisms to sustain
peace in the region and promote reconciliation among the countries in the Amman
Quintet.
In addition, Political analyst Sheikat commented that Jordan
is not able to continue establishing its foreign policy entirely through
bilateral engagement with Damascus. He emphasised the critical need for
continuing the dialogue between the newly appointed government in Syria,
lifting sanctions on the Syrian economy, and improving Syria’s position within
the region and globally through establishing cooperative agreements with other
nations in the region and beyond.
Sheikat said,
“Syria’s ability to fulfil its security
responsibilities, which directly supports Jordan’s stability and that of the
wider region.”
Al-Daja said,
“Regional and international partnerships are
essential.”
Syria entered a political transition in December 2024, after
the collapse of the former government. Over the past year, some public
institutions have reopened, basic services have returned to major cities, and
Syria has engaged diplomatically with regional and international actors. Still,
many areas face serious reconstruction challenges, especially in regions
damaged during the conflict.
