Jordan–United Kingdom relations

During World War I, the Hashemites requested help and support from the British Empire throughout its official Near East headquarter administration in Cairo to fight against the Ottomans, which was materialized after 1916.[3] The sudden revolt led by the Hashemite family, while not be able to secure total support from other Arab tribes, played an instrumental role on the collapse of the Ottoman rule in there. However, the main goal of Hashemite's led-revolt, a complete unity and independence for an Arab state spanned from modern-day Iraq and Syria to further south of Yemen excluding Aden, was not honored by London and its French ally.[4] Eventually, as an apology to the failure, Britain placed Sharif Abdullah as ruler of the Emirate of Transjordan hoping to de-fuel tensions.[5]

Until 1956, the Emirate, while governed by the Hashemites, didn't have a complete independent administration. British Government still exercised influences across the Emirate. John Bagot Glubb, known as Glubb Pasha, was the de facto ruler in charge of the country, laid the foundation of Arab Legion, which would be known in the future as the Jordanian Armed Forces.[6] Meanwhile, Glubb Pasha played a controversial role, which is still on debate in the history of modern Jordanian Kingdom.[7]

At the Arab–Israeli War of 1948, Britain secretly favored a total Jordanian invasion of West Bank hoping to wipe out a possible creation of a Palestinian state led by Amin al-Husseini, in which, it was a success and secured British influence within Transjordan although their role has created an unwanted consequence in the future of the Middle East.[8] Britain would be later continuing to support Jordan at the Black September against the PLO,[9] though its support was questionable after its comment in distrust of the future of King Hussein.[10] Britain also secretly supported Israeli jets to fly in Jordan when Syria sent troops to invade the country, forcing the Syrians to retreat.[11]

King Hussein himself married Antoinette Gardiner, a British woman who later gave birth to Abdullah II of Jordan. As for the result, Abdullah II has a British descent throughout his mother.

Thanked for this strong kinship and the later marriage between Hussein and Muna, Jordan and the United Kingdom maintain a strong relationship.[12] British PM Theresa May considered Jordan as a noteworthy ally, and was responded with the same mutual trust from the Jordanian PM.[13] Two countries also set to expand their bilateral ties.[14]

Both also involved at small-scale in the peace talk between Israel and Palestine as negotiator and urged for peace talk between.[15]

According from King Abdullah II, the relationship has already reached a high point to become true partnership.[16]

• Alon, Yoav. "‘Heart-Beguiling Araby’ on the Frontier of Empire: Early Anglo-Arab Relations in Transjordan." British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 36.1 (2009): 55-72.
• Ashton, Nigel J. "‘A “Special Relationship” sometimes in spite of ourselves’: Britain and Jordan, 1957–73." Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 33.2 (2005): 221-244.
• Oren, Michael B. "A Winter of Discontent: Britain's Crisis in Jordan, December 1955-March 1956." International Journal of Middle East Studies 22.2 (1990): 171–184.
• Ovendale, Ritchie. "Great Britain and the Anglo-American invasion of Jordan and Lebanon in 1958." International History Review 16.2 (1994): 284–303.
• Tal, Lawrence. "Britain and the Jordan Crisis of 1958." Middle Eastern Studies 31.1 (1995): 39–57.
• Wilson, Mary Christina. King Abdullah, Britain and the making of Jordan (Cambridge University Press, 1990).

• Jordanian embassy in the United Kingdom
• British Embassy Amman