Jordan Repositions Itself in a Transforming Middle East Amid Competition Over Trade and Energy Corridors

As geopolitical and economic transformations accelerate across the Middle East, a new policy paper titled “Jordan and the Middle East: A Forward-Looking Strategic Vision” by senior researcher Ali Hijazi highlights the profound shifts reshaping the regional order through logistics corridors, energy networks, and cross-border supply chains.

The paper argues that regional competition is no longer limited to traditional political influence. Instead, it increasingly revolves around control over economic corridors, logistical hubs, energy infrastructure, and electricity interconnection networks, as regional and international actors race to redesign the geography of trade and energy in the Middle East.

According to the study, Jordan is facing a decisive strategic moment that could determine whether it remains merely a transit route or evolves into a regional hub capable of managing flows, generating added value, and integrating storage, redistribution, energy connectivity, and advanced logistics services into its economic model.

The paper outlines several strategic scenarios for Jordan’s future positioning, including integration into global corridor initiatives such as IMEC, the development of a North–South regional axis linking the Gulf with the Levant and Turkey, and the adoption of a hybrid strategy that enables Jordan to engage with multiple routes without becoming dependent on a single project.

The study also warns against the risks of geographic marginalization and low-value integration into regional projects, emphasizing that the real challenge lies not in participation itself, but in Jordan’s ability to define and secure a productive economic role within the emerging regional networks.

To read the paper, press on the following link