Jordan joined NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) group in 1995 to work with the Allies and partners on strengthening regional security, stability and prosperity on the shores of the Mediterranean through achieving a better mutual understanding between MD countries and the Allies, and dispelling any misconceptions about NATO among Dialogue countries.
Under the umbrella of the MD group, Jordan and NATO agreed to embed Jordan’s Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program (IPCP), the framework document for cooperation between Jordan and NATO, with an Individual Public Diplomacy Action Plan to increase the political mutual understanding between Jordan and NATO.
The 2014 Wales Summit launched the Partnership Interoperability Initiative and with it Enhanced Opportunity Partner (EOP) statues for nations that have proven to be NATO’s most capable and interoperable partners.
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) granted Jordan the Enhanced Opportunity Partner status for three years in October 2014. This status was renewed for Jordan, along with other partner countries (Finland, Australia, Georgia, Sweden) in November 2017. The initiative establishes a number of measures designed to ensure deep linkages with the partner nations in order to discuss and develop common actions to deepen interoperability with NATO, in addition to regular political consultations, notably at the Ministerial level.
The last visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to NATO headquarters was on December 12, 2018. His Majesty met with the NATO Secretary General, where they discussed Jordan-NATO bilateral cooperation and shared security challenges.
His Majesty also participated in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, addressing security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, including the fight against terrorism.