Jordan has put its own plan into action to guarantee water security after Israel did not renew the additional water agreement. A Jordanian official stated that Israel's refusal to renew the annual 50 million cubic meter additional water agreement is not a new development, and that the government has been working on an alternative plan since last year.
The official, speaking to Al Jazeera, stressed that an alternative plan was prepared before the agreement ended on the instructions of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, and that water security would not be left dependent on political developments. He stated that Jordan continues to receive its basic water rights under the 1994 peace treaty, but that the part not renewed is only the additional quantities.
Emergency measures and national project
The official reported that under the emergency measures package, well maintenance has been carried out, new wells have been drilled, saline water sources are being utilized, and the crackdown on violations against water resources has been tightened. A Jordanian Water Ministry official announced that the national water carrier project has entered the financial closure phase and that construction will begin in the last quarter of this year.
After approximately four years of construction, water pumping will begin in the last quarter of 2030. The project, Jordan's largest water investment costing about $5.8 billion, is being carried out with financing partnerships from 29 international organizations. Once completed, it will provide 300 million cubic meters of drinking water annually, meeting the kingdom's needs and largely closing the water deficit over the next decade.
Regional cooperation: Joint platform with Syria
Jordan is also increasing cooperation with Syria to support water security. The two countries have launched an operational platform in Amman for the management of shared water resources. Joint work is underway on the Yarmouk River basin and the Wahda Dam. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani previously stated that President Ahmed al-Sharaa is ready to cooperate on water resources. Jordanian officials stress that regional cooperation is the most effective solution to the water crisis.
