Trump Can't Take Jordan for Granted as Saudi Arabia Evolves
Jordan's status as America's BFF in the Arab world faces a surprising new challenge from Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration (with quiet Israeli encouragement) is courting Saudi Arabia's brash crown prince  Mohammed bin Salman. "MBS " as he's known  is the glamorous new guest at the American table. Some Jordanians are feeling like the loyal partner whose affections have been forgotten.
MBS is moving into political space long occupied by Jordan. The Saudi leader is trying to repackage the kingdom as a voice of moderate Islam  which has been Jordan's special mission. He's styling himself as an Arab change agent  a role championed by Jordan's King Abdullah II. And MBS is subtly supporting  President Trump 's "ultimate deal" on the Israeli-Palestinian problem  despite Jordanian misgivings.
What worries Amman is that  Trump 's disruptive diplomacy â symbolized by  his  decision in December to reverse long-standing U.S. policy and move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem â will cause internal political problems for Jordan  with its large Palestinian population. When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas denounces Trump's peace process  Jordan fears it will have to pick up the pieces.
The Trump White House's ardor for MBS comes at a moment when Jordan's relations with Riyadh have cooled. A senior Jordanian official cites three key disagreements: The Jordanians didn't send ground troops to join the Saudi invasion of Yemen three years ago. Jordan also balked at the Saudi campaign against Qatar  perhaps mindful of the 50 000 Jordanians working in Doha. Finally  the Jordanians disagreed with Saudi calls for a legal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood  believing that the GID's covert containment of the Brotherhood was more effective.
Jordan's status as America's BFF in the Arab world faces a surprising new challenge from Saudi Arabia. The  [TGT]  administration (with quiet Israeli encouragement) is courting Saudi Arabia's brash crown prince  Mohammed bin Salman. "MBS " as he's known  is the glamorous new guest at the American table. Some Jordanians are feeling like the loyal partner whose affections have been forgotten.
MBS is moving into political space long occupied by Jordan. The Saudi leader is trying to repackage the kingdom as a voice of moderate Islam  which has been Jordan's special mission. He's styling himself as an Arab change agent  a role championed by Jordan's King Abdullah II. And MBS is subtly supporting  President  [TGT]  's "ultimate deal" on the Israeli-Palestinian problem  despite Jordanian misgivings.
What worries Amman is that   [TGT]  's disruptive diplomacy â symbolized by  his  decision in December to reverse long-standing U.S. policy and move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem â will cause internal political problems for Jordan  with its large Palestinian population. When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas denounces  [TGT] 's peace process  Jordan fears it will have to pick up the pieces.
The  [TGT]  White House's ardor for MBS comes at a moment when Jordan's relations with Riyadh have cooled. A senior Jordanian official cites three key disagreements: The Jordanians didn't send ground troops to join the Saudi invasion of Yemen three years ago. Jordan also balked at the Saudi campaign against Qatar  perhaps mindful of the 50 000 Jordanians working in Doha. Finally  the Jordanians disagreed with Saudi calls for a legal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood  believing that the GID's covert containment of the Brotherhood was more effective.