Canada and Jordan strengthen cooperation on security

News Release

May 5, 2016 - Amman, Jordan - Global Affairs Canada

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Canada, today signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan to increase cooperation between the two countries on security and stabilization in the region.

Jordan is essential to stability in the Middle East. This memorandum is part of Canada’s whole-of-government strategy, announced in February 2016, to support the Global Coalition’s efforts against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to respond to the crisis in Syria and Iraq. The strategy includes a commitment of $1.6 billion over the next three years to provide security, stabilization, humanitarian and development assistance. The funding will address the impact of this crisis on Jordan and Lebanon and will increase Canada’s diplomatic engagement in the region. The memorandum also increases accountability for all current and future Canadian assistance projects in Jordan.

Quotes

“The memorandum of understanding lays out a framework for cooperation in which the two countries agree to collaborate in addressing the security and stabilization challenges faced by Jordan as a result of the ongoing civil war in Syria and the threat posed by ISIL and other terrorist entities in the region.”

- Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

“The Jordanian government appreciates the cooperation and partnership between the two countries at all levels. Jordan and Canada have been working closely for years to combat terrorism and to deal with various regional and global challenges. Our historical relations have been strong for more than 50 years now.”

- Mohammad Taisir Bani Yassin, Secretary General of Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates

Quick facts

  • The memorandum of understanding will be overseen by Global Affairs Canada and Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. All projects falling under this instrument will be administered by the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START) and the Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program.
  • START is the Government of Canada’s centre of expertise on fragile and conflict-affected states. It provides rapid, responsive and effective stabilization and reconstruction programming and deployments in crises or fragile situations throughout the world and manages whole-of-government coordination in complex crises, including responses to natural disasters.
  • The Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program was created in 2005 with a mandate to provide assistance to foreign states to enable them to prevent and respond to terrorist activity through the provision of training, funding, equipment, and technical and legal assistance.

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