As Prime Minister Modi jets off to Amman, Jordan on Monday for his first official visit, a question lingers: why Jordan when King Abdullah II was in Pakistan only a month ago? Not to mention the half-century old ties between the Jordanian and Pakistani armed forces.
Would not a visit to Iraq have been more appropriate given that trade flows between Baghdad and New Delhi was around $37 bn last year, compared to less than $3 billion between India and Jordan.
Even in terms of diaspora, there are an estimated 33,000 Indians in Iraq working in the oil, construction and health sectors, as against 17,000 in Jordan.
But Jordan under King Abdullah has been politically moderate in a volatile region. It is a front line state bordering Israel, maintains diplomatic ties and keeps the conversation going despite being under pressure from other Arab states and the Palestinians who make up 70% of its population.
It has carefully stayed out of the Gaza war while fulfilling its duties as the custodian of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
In that sense, the perspective that the king is able to offer Modi on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, would be valuable. The king will also have his ideas on the prospects for the Trump peace plan, Hamas, Hezbollah and all the other characters, making for useful inputs for India.
On peace in Gaza hinges the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor. First proposed by former US President Joe Biden in 2023, the proposal has remained in limbo waiting for the war in Gaza to end. Jordan will be a key link in this corridor.
For Jordan, which may not draw too many visitors from outside the region, the Modi visit is an opportunity to underscore civilisational links: Petra in southern Jordan was once the gateway for Indian goods being moved to the Levant and Egypt.
In commercial terms, Jordan would like to export more phosphate to this country. A readout by the Ministry of External Affairs noted that “Jordan is also a leading supplier of fertilizers … particularly phosphates and potash. There is a joint venture named Jordan India Fertilizer Company with an investment of $860 million between IFFCO of India and Jordan Phosphates Mines Company.”
Fifteen Indian garment companies with an investment of 500 million dollars, are operating in the industrial zones of Jordan, taking advantage of duty free access to the US market. They produce for a swathe of global brands.
Thirty eight years in journalism, widely travelled, history buff with a preference for Old Monk Rum. Current interest/focus spans China, Technology and Trade. Recent reads: Steven Colls Directorate S and Alexander Frater's Chasing the Monsoon. Netflix/Prime video junkie. Loves animal videos on Facebook. Reluctant tweeter.
