During His Majesty King Abdullah's Asian tour and his visit to Japan in November 2025, the importance of Jordanian-Japanese relations was reaffirmed as one of the most stable and balanced international relations in the Middle East. Over the past decades, the two countries have successfully built a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, development cooperation, political support and coordination in addressing regional and international challenges. Today, Japan has become one of Jordan's most important development partners through its governmental and economic arms, most notably the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has played a pivotal role in supporting infrastructure, water, energy, and human development projects in the Kingdom.

 

His Majesty's visit to Japan comes at a highly sensitive regional and international juncture, amidst ongoing crises in the Middle East, global economic challenges, and rapid geopolitical shifts. The visit also reflects Jordan's keenness to diversify its international partnerships and strengthen its presence in Asia, particularly with major economic powers that possess advanced expertise in technology, development, and modern management.

 

On the political level, relations between Jordan and Japan are characterised by a high degree of understanding and coordination. Tokyo views Jordan as an “anchor of stability” in a turbulent region, a description frequently repeated in Japanese political and diplomatic discourse. In this context, the Japanese Ambassador to Amman, Hideki Asari, affirmed in his article entitled “Jordan’s invaluable role as an anchor of stability” that “the current crisis has once again proven that Jordan continues to play the role of an anchor of stability in the region,” emphasising that Japan “values ​​its strategic partnership with Jordan and will continue to work with it in confronting current and future challenges.” This statement reflects the extent of the political trust Japan places in Jordan and its pivotal role in maintaining the security and stability of the region.

 

The water sector stands out as one of the most important areas of Jordanian-Japanese cooperation, given that Jordan is among the world’s most water-scarce countries. Japan has contributed to the implementation of strategic projects to improve water networks, reduce water loss and enhance water management efficiency, particularly in Zarqa, Irbid and Ramtha. Japan also supported “uncollected water” programmes, which have significantly reduced water loss, in addition to supporting long-term strategic plans for water resource management up to 2035. This cooperation reflects Japan’s understanding of the sensitivity of water security in Jordan, as it is one of the most important challenges to national security and sustainable development.

 

In the energy and infrastructure sector, Japan supported energy efficiency projects, the development of water pumping systems and service infrastructure, and the transfer of Japanese expertise in smart energy management and industrial technology. It also contributed to supporting Jordan’s economic modernization vision, which aims to transform Jordan into a regional hub for business, investment, and logistics.

 

On the humanitarian front, Japan played a significant role in supporting Jordan during the Syrian refugee crisis by funding projects to improve water, health, and education services in refugee-hosting areas, as well as supporting local communities that bore significant economic and social burdens. Japan also supported the Jordanian Armed Forces and the Royal Medical Services with advanced medical equipment and supplies, as part of its efforts to bolster Jordan’s capacity for humanitarian and medical response in the region. Japanese Ambassador Hideki Asari highlighted a Japanese project to support the Royal Medical Services with medical and intensive care equipment.

 

Cooperation between the two countries has also extended to the education, training and human development sectors through scholarship programs, technical training, and capacity building. Hundreds of Jordanians have benefited from Japanese training and qualification programmes in management, engineering, technology, and local development. Through these programs, Japan seeks to transfer its development model, based on discipline, innovation, and technology, to partner countries, foremost among them Jordan.

 

Economically, Japan is a key partner for Jordan in investment, infrastructure, and technology. Tokyo views Jordan as a strategic gateway to regional markets, particularly given its geographic location and its capacity to play a logistical and humanitarian role in the region. Conversely, Jordan sees Japan as a global model for economic modernisation, technology and advanced industry, and a reliable partner, free from sharp political polarisation.

 

In light of current international developments, Jordanian-Japanese cooperation is becoming increasingly important within a broader vision linking the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region, especially with Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative, which aims to enhance economic and trade integration and international stability. In this context, Jordan has a significant opportunity to become a regional hub connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe, leveraging its political stability and strategic location.

 

It can be said that Jordanian-Japanese relations are no longer merely traditional aid and development cooperation. Over the past few decades, they have transformed into a multidimensional strategic partnership encompassing politics, development, economics, human security, and technological cooperation. The two countries have successfully built a balanced relationship based on mutual trust and respect, and a shared vision on issues of stability, peace and sustainable development.

 

King Abdullah's visit to Japan also reflects the importance of the role Jordan seeks to establish as a stable and open country capable of building balanced international partnerships in a world undergoing rapid geopolitical and economic transformations. Conversely, Japan views Jordan as a reliable regional partner, a pillar of stability and moderation, and a vital base for economic and humanitarian cooperation in the Middle East.

 

 

Hassan Al-Da'jah is professor of strategic studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University