25 March 2022

Amman, Jordan — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left governments across the Middle East and North Africa in a strategic bind, with several capitals reticent to condemn Moscow, on which many rely heavily for wheat and weapons.

When the first United Nations Security Council resolution against the invasion of Ukraine was proposed on 25 February, several regional powerhouses were slow off the mark in formulating their positions.

The United Arab Emirates, the only country in the region that currently holds a UN Security Council seat, abstained from voting, only to later issue public statements that some interpreted as considering Russia’s stated grievances legitimate.

Three days later, the Arab League, a body comprising 22 Arab states, issued a statement which failed to condemn Russia’s invasion and offered little support to Ukrainians.

For Jordan, neutrality has long been a pillar of its foreign policy.

The kingdom joined the majority of Arab countries in condemning Russia’s invasion via the UN resolution, but like their regional partners, stuck to neutral language, excluding even a mention of Russia in its statement. 

Jordan’s condemnation of Russia “wasn’t that forceful”, said Merissa Khurma, the Wilson Center’s Middle East Programme director and a former Information Bureau director at Amman’s embassy in Washington.

“Akin to other countries in the region, Jordan is compelled to try to balance its relations,” she said. “Russia is right on the border.”