During a June visit to the Jordanian capital, Amman, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with his Jordanian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, to discuss ongoing military cooperation.

The leaders explored avenues for continued collaboration between the two nations, which have a long tradition of military cooperation.

With diplomatic relations first established in 1949, Jordan has been a longstanding partner to the United States.

A shared commitment to enhanced military coordination is borne out by routine joint exercises aimed at promoting regional security and advancing mutual strategic interests.

In July, the Jordanian Armed Forces and US Marine Corps Forces, Central Command (MARCENT), kicked off the 10th iteration of the Native Fury drill.

Spanning several strategic locations across the kingdom, the exercise features a comprehensive range of scenarios that aim to serve as a "proving ground for joint operations," according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The exercise featured medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) drills, port and logistics operations, urban combat scenarios and command and control exercises.

A signature component of Native Fury 2025 was the way it integrated Jordan’s vital infrastructure -- ports, airfields and logistics corridors -- and strategic location to enhance real-world interoperability.

Beyond tactical preparation, the exercise serves to build trust and mutual understanding between the two partner nations, enabling them to navigate the complexities of the global security environment.

Kingdom's key role

The next iteration of the Eager Lion exercise, which the US Department of Defense describes as "the most important exercise between the US and Jordanian Armed Forces," is slated to take place in May 2026.

Eager Lion seeks to incorporate cutting-edge responses to emerging threats.

In May 2024, 33 nations convened in Jordan for Eager Lion 24, which involved combined-arms live-fire and command post exercises as well as seminars for senior leaders.

Participants conducted simulated operations to respond to new drone technologies and practiced response protocols for operating in a chemically contaminated environment.

Jordan, which has been essential to military cooperation in the region, previously took a turn at the helm of the maritime Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), which was assembled by the US Navy.

CTF 154 was established in May 2023 as a training-specific task force under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a multi-national maritime coalition.

The CMF is dedicated to countering maritime threats and ensuring freedom of navigation across 3.2 million square miles of international waters.

Jordan’s willingness to assume command of CTF 154 is indicative of the key role it plays in collective security and as a steady security partner to the United States.