The United States of America's Foreign Policy towards Jordan During (George H. W. Bush) Administration1989-1993 (A Case Study of the Iraqi War on Kuwait)

Abstract

This paper examines the United States of America's foreign policy towards Jordan during the administration (George H. W. Bush) (1989-1993). The change occurred in the United States foreign policy towards Jordan due to Jordan’s position opposing the United States of America towards an Iraq war. Jordanian-American connections were disrupted because of that war when Jordan took a stand of opposition to the United States of America, influencing political and economic relations between them. So Jordan is the only one affected by that war. The study is conducted as qualitative research. The study reached the following results: On the political side, the Iraqi war on Kuwait led to a tense relationship between Jordan and the United States of America due to Jordan’s refusal to enter the coalition against Iraq under the United States' leadership America. The Jordanian popular position in Iraq's support in that war led to Jordanian pressure not to accept that alliance and this position. The United States of America has pressured the Gulf States to cut ties with Jordan. On the economic side of every political event with economic consequences and the Jordanian political position towards that war, Jordanian relations with the Gulf countries were cut off due to American pressure. Also, oil supplies from Iraq, which were taken at symbolic prices, were cut off. Hundreds of thousands of expatriates in the Gulf countries returned to Jordan, also reduced American aid to Jordan and closure the port of Aqaba. Those pressures led to a drop in the gross domestic product by 8%, slowing economic growth, and an increase in the unemployment rate to 30% and poverty to 33%.