US Ambassador to Jordan Henry T. Wooster has reaffirmed his country's support of King Abdullah II’s vision for economic, administrative, and political reforms in Jordan, Washington's "key partner" in the region.

The Ambassador's remarks came in a press briefing at the US Embassy in Amman marking a transfer arrangement of the last tranche of annual aid, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two sides for the years 2018-2022.

"Jordan is a key partner for the United States, in fact, in this region, there's no better partner for the United States," he noted.

In September 2022, Jordan and the US signed a sequel seven-year MoU (2023-2029), under which the latter pledged USD 10.15 billion in direct aid to the cash-strapped Kingdom.

The 2018 and the 2023 MoUs combined put Jordan at the forefront of US program recipients in the world, according to Wooster.

The latest one, he noted, is the “longest and also for the most significant amount of money” signed by the two countries.

According to the Ambassador, under the 2023-2029 agreement, Jordan will receive USD 610 million in cash transfer, USD 350 million for development programs, USD 400 million for security assistance, and USD 75 million for key reform priorities that Jordan has identified.

Wooster stressed that the US supports anything that “opens up Jordan's economy.”

He stressed that the US will work with the government and people of Jordan "to boost economic recovery, strengthen water security, and set the conditions to provide Jordanians the education, healthcare, and job opportunities they need."

In reply to a question about the impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on the Jordanian economy, Wooster said this war has put pressure "on the very basics of any economy."

Wooster questioned how people would be able to get their basic commodities if the "wheat is in turmoil or it's available, but it's three times, five times, ten times whatever you normally plan to pay for wheat, for flour, and for bread?”

“Those variables, we are awake to them. We are unfortunately not able to be the cushion for every one of life's exigencies, but we are profoundly aware of that for the reasons that all of us are aware of the effect that it's having," he said.

Also Read: Jordan, US sign annual grant agreement for budget support

Sunday, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh attended the ceremony to sign the annual US grant agreement between the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant aims to support Jordan's budget, amounting to USD 845.1 million.

During the signing of the agreement, which was held at the ministry's headquarters, Khasawneh stressed the depth of the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, and the importance Jordan attaches to developing its partnership with the United States in various cooperation fields.

The US grant comes as part of the US economic aid program to the Jordanian government, within the third memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides for the years 2018-2022.

The Prime Minister expressed Jordan's appreciation for the support provided by the US, which expresses its understanding of the huge challenges the Kingdom faces and its support for the comprehensive modernization project.

Khasawneh noted that Jordan will continue to move forward in its comprehensive modernization project with its three political, economic, and administrative tracks within the framework of the political system modernization, Economic Modernization Vision, and public sector modernization roadmap, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II.