00:20A rare political revolt is unfolding in Jordan.
00:24Hundreds of prominent political leaders, retired military officers,
00:28academics, lawyers, tribal chiefs, and public figures have signed an open letter demanding
00:35one major step.
00:37They want American troops out of Jordan.
00:41The letter says Jordan is not a party to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and should not
00:47be dragged into a war that is not its own.
00:49According to the signatories, the presence of nearly 4,000 U.S. troops exposes the country
00:56to unnecessary security, political, and economic risks, while offering no real national benefit.
01:03This is no ordinary petition.
01:06Public criticism of Jordan's security ties with Washington is extremely rare.
01:11Strict cybercrime laws and repeated crackdowns have made open dissent risky.
01:16Yet many of those who signed the letter openly acknowledged they could face consequences,
01:22but insisted the issue was too important to stay silent.
01:27So why is this debate happening now?
01:29The answer lies in the rapidly escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
01:37Over recent months, Iran has repeatedly targeted American military assets inside Jordan using
01:43missiles and drones.
01:45Bases, including Muwafik Salty Air Base, have come under attack.
01:50Some strikes have resulted in American casualties, while others triggered air raid sirens and forced
01:56Jordanian air defenses to intercept incoming projectiles.
02:00For many Jordanians, these attacks have changed the equation.
02:05They argue that hosting U.S. forces has transformed Jordan from a relatively stable country into a potential
02:12front-line state.
02:14The concerns go beyond security.
02:17Tourism, a major contributor to Jordan's economy, has already suffered because of growing
02:22regional instability.
02:24Many signatories argue the country is paying an economic price for a conflict it never chose.
02:31Jordan's government, however, maintains a different position.
02:35Officials describe the American military presence as a cooperative security partnership under the
02:412021 defense agreement, rather than permanent U.S. bases.
02:45The kingdom also receives around $1.65 billion in annual American assistance, making Washington
02:53one of Jordan's most important strategic partners.
02:57But Jordan is not the only country facing this dilemma.
03:00Across the Middle East, recent Iranian missile and drone attacks have exposed the vulnerability
03:07of American military installations.
03:09The conflict has sparked fresh debate over whether hosting U.S. forces provides security or instead
03:16makes countries direct targets during regional crises.
03:20Iran, meanwhile, has used these attacks to demonstrate that it can pressure American allies across the
03:27region.
03:27While many Arab governments continue to view Iran as a major security threat, public opinion in countries
03:34like Jordan has become increasingly critical of foreign military involvement and deeply opposed
03:40to being pulled into another regional war.
03:43The growing debate inside Jordan now raises a much bigger question.
03:48In an increasingly volatile Middle East, are American military bases still a strategic shield
03:55for partner nations, or are they becoming a growing liability?
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