India–Jordan Ties

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – International relation.

Introduction

India and Jordan share a long-standing and stable partnership based on trust, respect, and regular dialogue. Diplomatic relations, established in 1950, have grown into a mature relationship with strong political engagement, expanding economic links, and growing cooperation in defence, technology, education, and culture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s full bilateral visit to Jordan in December 2025, after a gap of 37 years, reflects renewed momentum and marks 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Evolution of India–Jordan Relations

Early diplomatic foundations: India and Jordan formalised diplomatic relations in 1950, following an initial cooperation agreement in 1947. Since then, relations have remained warm and stable, based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Gradual expansion of cooperation: Over the decades, the relationship evolved from political goodwill to structured engagement across trade, defence, technology, and education, supported by regular consultations and joint mechanisms.

Political Engagement and Diplomatic Exchanges

1. Leadership-level interactions: High-level visits have shaped bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi’s transit visit in 2018 was followed by King Abdullah II’s state visit to India the same year, which led to wide-ranging talks and the signing of 12 agreements.
2. Sustained dialogue and coordination: Both leaders met frequently on the sidelines of global summits such as the UN General Assembly, G7 Summit, COP meetings, and other international forums. These interactions ensured continuity and strategic coordination.
3. Structured institutional mechanisms: Foreign Office Consultations and Joint Working Groups provided regular platforms for cooperation. In 2025, consultations in Amman and virtual meetings on health cooperation strengthened coordination on pharmaceuticals, digital health, and medical regulation.
4. Shared stance on security concerns: Jordan consistently supported India after terror attacks, including the Pahalgam attack in April 2025. Both sides shared concerns on terrorism, regional instability, and civilian safety during discussions on West Asia developments.

Trade, Investment, and Economic Cooperation

1. Growing trade partnership: Trade is a core pillar of bilateral ties. India is among Jordan’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 2.875 billion in 2023–24. India exports cereals, petroleum products, and frozen meat, while importing phosphates and potash.
2. Fertiliser and resource security: Jordan plays a critical role in India’s fertiliser supply. Joint ventures like the Jordan India Fertiliser Company (US$ 860 million) and Indo-Jordan Chemical Company (US$ 169.5 million)ensure steady phosphoric acid supply to India.
3. Large-scale joint investments: Agreements worth US$ 1.5 billion between Jordanian and Indian fertiliser firms and long-term potash supply arrangements (275,000–325,000 tonnes annually) support India’s food security needs.
4. Manufacturing and industrial presence: Over 15 NRI-owned garment units operate in Jordan’s Qualified Industrial Zones, with investments of about US$ 500 million, exporting under the Jordan–US FTA framework.
5. Trade promotion and connectivity: Tourism events, trade seminars, participation in food expos, and the announcement of direct flights in 2025 enhanced business and people movement.

Defence and Security Cooperation

1. Formal defence framework: An MoU on Defence Cooperation (2018) provides the basis for military engagement and strategic dialogue between the two countries.
2. Operational and institutional exchanges: Indian and Jordanian defence delegations exchanged visits in 2024, including participation in SOFEX and naval training exposure in India.
3. Shared counter-terrorism outlook: Both sides strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and support coordinated responses, reflecting shared security concerns.

Science, Technology, and Digital Cooperation

1. IT capacity building: The India–Jordan Center of Excellence in Information Technology at Al-Hussein Technical University, inaugurated in 2021, is a flagship initiative fully funded by India.
2. Advanced technology training: The centre provides training in cyber security, machine learning, big data, and web development, supported by Indian master trainers.
3. Long-term skill development: The programme aims to train around 3,000 Jordanian professionals, strengthening Jordan’s digital ecosystem and technical workforce.

Education, Diaspora, and People-to-People Ties

1. Educational cooperation: India is a preferred study destination for Jordanian students, with over 2,500 graduatesfrom Indian institutions and continued ITEC and ICCR support.
2. Capacity-building programmes: Jordan regularly utilises civilian and executive training slots under India’s technical cooperation initiatives.
3. Indian diaspora presence: Around 17,500 Indians work across sectors such as textiles, healthcare, IT, construction, universities, and UN agencies, contributing to Jordan’s economy.
4. Mobility and consular facilitation: Visa-on-arrival, e-visa facilities, direct flights, and cooperation during evacuation operations reflect strong people-centric engagement.
5. Popular cultural presence: Indian culture, especially Bollywood, enjoys wide appeal in Jordan, supported by regular cultural events and Yoga Day celebrations.

What Are the Challenges in India–Jordan Relations?

1. Trade concentration: Bilateral trade of US$ 2.875 billion (2023–24) is heavily concentrated in fertilisers, phosphates, potash, and garments.
2. Regional instability impacts: West Asia conflicts and security tensions affect investment confidence, logistics, and long-term economic planning.
3. Underutilised digital and energy cooperation: Despite initiatives like the India–Jordan IT Centre of Excellence and 2025 MoUs on renewable energy and digital solutions, cooperation in UPI linkage, digital payments, and clean energy projects remains at an early stage.
4. Diverging Regional Stances: While both countries share a strong commitment to counter-terrorism, there have been past suggestions that India’s perceived silence on certain regional conflicts (e.g., the conflict in Syria) may have caused some discontent in the region.
5. Geopolitical Alignment: In the complex West Asian geopolitical landscape, the various rifts and alliances (e.g., Shia-Sunni divide, Israel-Iran rift) force countries to navigate complex relationships.

Outcomes of PM Modi’s 2025 Visit

1. Expanded cooperation agenda

• Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, renewable energy, fertilizers, digital technology, health, education, tourism, and culture.
  A target of US$ 5 billion bilateral trade over five years was proposed.
• Prime Minister also called for collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s United Payments Interface (UPI).
• Both leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and supported each other’s fight against terrorism.

2. Key agreements signed
   Agreements covered renewable energy, water management, cultural exchange (2025–2029), heritage cooperation (Petra–Ellora), and digital transformation, providing fresh momentum to sectoral collaboration.

Conclusion

India–Jordan ties show the strength of steady diplomacy and practical cooperation. Regular dialogue, economic interdependence, and shared security concerns have added depth to the partnership. The outcomes of the 2025 visit have set clear goals for future growth. As India strengthens its West Asia engagement, Jordan remains a reliable partner anchored in trust, trade, and strategic understanding.

Question for practice:

Discuss the key dimensions and recent developments in India–Jordan bilateral relations in the context of Prime Minister Modi’s 2025 visit.

Source:  PIB