Introduction
How is the Military in Jordan and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; aka Arab Army): Jordanian Army (Jordanian Ground Forces; includes Special Operations Forces, Border Guards, Royal Guard), Jordanian Air Force, Jordanian Navy)
Ministry of Interior: Public Security Directorate (includes national police, the Gendarmerie, and the Civil Defense Directorate) (2025).
Ministry of Interior: Public Security Directorate (includes national police, the Gendarmerie, and the Civil Defense Directorate) (2025).
In Jordan, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) are responsible for territorial defense and border security and have a supporting role for internal security; key areas of concern include regional conflict and instability and unconventional threats, such as terrorism and weapons smuggling; the JAF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises, UN peacekeeping missions, and have taken part in regional military operations alongside international forces in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen
the US is a key security partner, and Jordan is one of the largest recipients of US military aid in the region; it cooperates with the US on a number of issues, including border security, arms transfers, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism; Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
the US is a key security partner, and Jordan is one of the largest recipients of US military aid in the region; it cooperates with the US on a number of issues, including border security, arms transfers, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism; Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
Security and military information of Jordan
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 100,000 active-duty Armed Forces (85,000 Army; 14,000 Air Force; 1,000 Navy) (2025) |
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| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the JAF inventory is comprised of a wide mix of imported equipment, much of it older or secondhand, from China, Europe, some Gulf States, Russia, and the US (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women); initial service term is 24 months, with option to reenlist for up to 18 years; conscription was abolished in 1991, but in 2020 Jordan announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service for jobless men aged between 25 and 29 with 12 months of service, made up of 3 months of military training and 9 months of professional and technical training; in 2019, Jordan announced a voluntary 4-month National Military Service program for men and women aged between 18-25 years who have been unemployed for at least 6 months; service would include 1 month for military training with the remaining 3 months dedicated to vocational training in the sectors of construction and tourism (2023). note: women comprised about 3% of the military as of 2023 |
| Military deployments | Jordan has about 200 police deployed to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2024). |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2024 | 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 4.8% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 5% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 5% of GDP (2020 est.) |
Terrorism
In Jordan, the different Terrorist group(s) inlcude: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
All Important Facts about Jordan
Want to know more about Jordan? Check all different factbooks for Jordan below.
