Relationship dossier
Jordan
Syria
Relationship assessment
Practical engagement alongside persistent border-security tensions
Jordan toward Syria
+15Jordan reopened the Nasib-Jaber crossing in 2018 and pursued Arab diplomatic engagement with Syria. Jordan has also carried out strikes inside Syria against alleged drug-smuggling targets, reflecting serious border-security concerns.
Syria toward Jordan
+5Syrian authorities participated in bilateral security discussions with Jordan, including talks on border security and drug trafficking. The extent and continuity of practical cooperation under Syria's changed political leadership remain unclear.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship has a durable practical basis in border management and trade, but security concerns have repeatedly constrained it. Jordanian diplomatic engagement and reopening of the main border crossing coexist with disputes over trafficking and border threats. Political change in Syria adds uncertainty to the continuity of the bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Jordanian-Syrian relations have combined practical engagement with persistent security tensions. Jordan reopened the Nasib-Jaber border crossing in 2018 and later pursued Arab diplomatic engagement with Damascus. Border security and drug trafficking have remained contentious, including Jordanian strikes against alleged smuggling targets in Syria. Political change in Syria makes the durability and implementation of newer cooperation uncertain.
Areas of tension
- Drug trafficking and weapons smuggling across the Syrian-Jordanian border
- Jordanian airstrikes against alleged smuggling targets inside Syria
- Border security and the activities of armed groups near the frontier
Key developments
Jordan reopened the Nasib-Jaber border crossing with Syria, restoring a major route for cross-border trade and travel.
Jordan hosted Syrian and regional officials for talks on border security and combating drug trafficking.
Jordanian forces carried out strikes inside Syria against alleged drug-smuggling targets.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of security cooperation between the current Syrian authorities and Jordan are unclear.
- The extent to which cross-border trafficking networks involve Syrian state actors remains uncertain.