PNN – Hundreds of political activists in Jordan have protested the presence of U.S. military forces in their country by issuing a rare letter.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; an American newspaper has reported that hundreds of political, legal, and social figures in Jordan—in a rare move—signed a letter calling for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from their territory.
The New York Times has described this move as a rare and public challenge to the Jordanian government, which has for years imposed a severe crackdown on freedom of speech and political dissent.
In recent weeks, Iranian missiles and drones have targeted U.S. military forces and facilities in Jordan. These attacks have repeatedly triggered warning sirens across the country, drawing Jordan further into a war that few desired. Yet, the majority of Jordanians have chosen to remain silent.
The signatories of the letter stated that their motivation stemmed from a sense of national responsibility and concern that the presence of U.S. forces jeopardizes Jordan’s sovereignty.
The letter reads: We emphasize that the American presence exposes Jordan to security, political, and economic risks that offer no benefit to our national interests, while increasing the likelihood of our country being dragged into a regional conflict in which it has no stake.
The New York Times reported that a Jordanian government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment regarding the open letter.
Jordan hosts approximately 4,000 U.S. troops at its bases and serves as a key hub for U.S. military operations in the Middle East (West Asia).
After the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran late last February, Iran retaliated by striking U.S. bases in the region, including those in Jordan.
Sufian al-Tal, a 90-year-old political activist, said he signed the letter because he wanted to show the world the disparity between the Jordanian government’s stance—particularly its support for close ties with the U.S. and Israel—and the will of the Jordanian people.
Al-Tal, who had been detained by Jordanian security forces in late 2022 for planning to publicly criticize a speech by King Abdullah, stated: As the people of Jordan, we do not accept the government’s policies—nor the exploitation of Jordan and its resources in any way—to defend Israel.
The political activist noted that the presence of U.S. forces has put Jordanians at risk; for instance, there are dangers posed by falling debris and shrapnel from Iranian missiles—fired at Israel—that are intercepted by U.S. air defenses over Jordanian territory.
He also added that since the letter’s publication, hundreds more Jordanians have added their names to it, despite being aware of the risks involved.
Warning of the dangers facing the signatories, he said: The government’s response is to open the prison gates and drag us into jail, one after another.
The New York Times reported that a session of the Jordanian parliament on Monday revealed the extent of the negative reaction within the country to the presence of U.S. forces.
During the session, when MP Ali al-Khalaileh proposed that the assembly offer condolences for the American soldiers killed on Jordanian soil, he was met with shouts of protest from other lawmakers—including one who stated that the U.S. military stands accused of killing children, women, and the elderly.
Daoud Kuttab, a Palestinian-American journalist and analyst based in Amman, noted that no Jordanian media outlet published the letter, a fact that points to government directives against its publication as well as media self-censorship.
According to The New York Times, a media outlet close to the Jordanian government published an article attacking the letter without including the text of the letter itself. The letter has been shared on social media.