Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The U.S. Congress has approved 1.52 billion U.S. dollars in assistance to Jordan, said Jordan's Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation in a statement on Saturday.

The Congress set the aid for this year at no less than 1.525 billion U.S. dollars, of which no less than 1.082 billion U.S. dollars will be economic assistance and no less than 425 million U.S. dollars as military assistance.

Jordanian Planning and International Cooperation Minister, Imad Fakhoury, underscored that these figures significantly exceed the indicative amounts included in the recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding (2018-2022) on Strategic Partnership between the two countries, adding that the aid this year is 250 million U.S. dollars above the memorandum level.

Fakhoury stated that this attests to the U.S., both Congress and the administration, great understanding of the challenges that Jordan is facing and to the role Jordan has been playing regionally and globally in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

It also comes in recognition of and support to the reform efforts that Jordan is carrying on all fronts and in appreciation to burdens Jordan is shouldering as a result of the crises in the region, said the minister.

Both the MoU signed in February and the 2018 Budget reflect the strong strategic partnership between the United States and Jordan, said Henry Wooster, Charge d' Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Amman.

"For over six decades, the United States has been committed to Jordan's security and economic prosperity. This budget is a reflection that this commitment is stronger than ever," Wooster said.