Jordan is reactivating national military service after a suspension of more than three decades, a decisive move that reflects growing concerns over profound instability across its borders. The announcement was made by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, who stressed the need for the country's youth to be prepared to "serve and defend their country" in an increasingly volatile Middle East.
The decision, announced on Sunday, marks a significant policy shift for the Hashemite Kingdom, which ended mandatory conscription in 1991. While a limited, one-year service for unemployed men was introduced in 2020 to combat an economic crisis, this new program represents a significant shift back to national conscription. According to government spokesperson Mohammad Momani, the program will begin early next year for those born in 2007. An initial intake of 6,000 participants is planned, to expand to 10,000, and eventually cover the majority of eligible citizens in the coming years.
The reinstatement of military service is widely seen as a direct response to a convergence of serious external threats. The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has raised fears of a widespread civil war spilling across the border. In contrast, the deteriorating situation for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the ongoing war in Gaza have put Amman on high alert. A key concern is the potential for a mass displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan, a scenario that Amman has stated it would consider a breach of its 1994 peace treaty and a potential cause for war with Israel.
This friction has already led to military posturing, with Jordan deploying extra battalions to its western borders and Israel establishing a new eastern division to guard its frontier. Officials in Amman have pointed to rhetoric from Israel's far-right as a destabilizing factor, requiring Jordan to respond with rational measures to ensure its security and sovereignty.
Simultaneously, the kingdom is navigating significant domestic challenges. The government's continued diplomatic and security ties with Israel, despite the war in Gaza, have sparked unprecedented public criticism and large-scale protests. In response, Jordanian authorities have conducted a widespread campaign of arrests targeting those showing solidarity with Palestinians, a move sources say is fuelling an "internal crisis." The decision to revive military service can therefore be viewed not only as a preparation for external conflict but also as an effort to foster national unity, discipline, and a stronger connection to the state at a time of immense internal and external pressure.
Photo: The Source