World

US set to boost aid to Jordan despite Trump threats of cuts

14 of February 2018

In this Feb. 12, 2018, photo, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaks in Cairo, Egypt. Despite repeated threats to punish countries that don’t agree with U.S. Mideast policy, the Trump administration is set to boost aid to Jordan by more than a billion dollars over the next five years. Tillerson and Jordan’s foreign minister will sign the aid agreement in Amman on Wednesday, according to the officials who were not authorized to preview the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. (Khaled Elfiqi/Pool photo via AP),In this Feb. 12, 2018, photo, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaks in Cairo, Egypt. Despite repeated threats to punish countries that don’t agree with U.S. Mideast policy, the Trump administration is set to boost aid to Jordan by more than a billion dollars over the next five years. Tillerson and Jordan’s foreign minister will sign the aid agreement in Amman on Wednesday, according to the officials who were not authorized to preview the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. (Khaled Elfiqi/Pool photo via AP)

The Trump administration is set to boost aid to Jordan by more than $1 billion over the next five years, in spite of President Donald Trump's repeated threats to punish countries that don't agree with U.S. policy in the Middle East. Jordan voted in December to condemn the U.S. for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and it criticized the U.S. for withholding Palestinian refugee funds.

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The Trump administration is set to boost aid to Jordan by more than $1 billion over the next five years, in spite of President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to punish countries that don’t agree with U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Jordan voted in December to condemn the U.S. for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and it criticized the U.S. for withholding Palestinian refugee funds.

But U.S. officials say the administration will give Jordan $1.275 billion annually until 2022. That’s $275 million more than the current level.

Officials say U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Jordan’s foreign minister will sign the aid agreement in Amman on Wednesday. The officials are not authorized to preview the announcement and are speaking on condition of anonymity.