Germany sold Jordan military equipment worth 18 million EUR to strengthen its border control with Syria and Iraq. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the equipment would help the Middle Eastern country keep border surveillance in the turbulent region. She emphasized that not only Germany but also Europe as a whole has an interest in Jordan’s stability. The new equipment that was handed over in the Jordanian capital Amman includes two training airplanes worth €5 million, 70 trucks and 56 vans worth more than €13 million whose main aim, once deployed, will be to “improve mobility at the border”.
Germany is assisting refugee-burdened Jordan in many ways including the job initiative “cash for work”, which provides potable water to refugees and the host communities as well as helps fund school teachers’ salaries. Berlin has also assisted the country through a 2016 aid program aimed at helping Middle Eastern and African partners resolve and prevent local conflicts. The German authorities said that this should address the causes of migration to Europe.
Jordan has been at the forefront of the fight against the “Islamic State” (IS). The aid and military equipment provided by Germany comes on top of the extensive efforts by the European Union who has established the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, whereby the so-called Madad Fund is designed to enable a more coherent EU response to the crisis. To date, the fund has reached a total of €932 million, out of which €815,2 million come from the EU budget, €92,6 million from 22 EU Member States and € 24,6 million from Turkey.
