Japan’s Ambassador at PSI: Jordan Is an Anchor of Stability in a Changing Middle East

Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan, Asari Hideki, affirmed that peace and stability in the Middle East are of direct interest to Japan, given the close links between regional crises, international security, supply chains, energy security, and freedom of navigation. He stressed the importance of de-escalation and ensuring free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a vital corridor for trade and energy whose instability would have repercussions beyond the region.

His remarks came during a session organized by the Politics and Society Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Amman and in cooperation with the Dr. Mohammad Al-Hamouri Cultural Forum, titled “Jordan-Japan Relations in a Changing Middle East: Diplomacy, Stability, and Future Cooperation.” The session brought together a number of researchers, academics, and experts.

During the session, Ambassador Asari delivered a presentation titled “Japan’s Diplomacy: Challenges, Opportunities and Responses,” in which he addressed the place of the Middle East in Japan’s foreign policy, the current challenges facing the region and the wider world, Japan’s responses to these challenges, and the nature of the strategic partnership between Jordan and Japan, as well as prospects for further developing it in the coming period.

On the Palestinian issue, Ambassador Asari outlined Japan’s approach to the war in Gaza and developments in the West Bank, reaffirming Japan’s support for efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, engaging in governance mechanisms, and providing comprehensive support for Palestinian state-building efforts. He also underscored the need to halt unilateral actions in the West Bank, support the Palestinian Authority, and continue backing the two-state solution.

The Ambassador noted that Japan’s assistance to Palestine has reached approximately USD 2.6 billion since 1993, including USD 410 million since October 2023. He explained that Japan continues to provide support through development and economic initiatives, including the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” and the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park, in addition to the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development.

Ambassador Asari also highlighted Jordan’s role in the region, describing the Kingdom as an “anchor of stability” due to its stability, resilience, and active diplomacy under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II. He also pointed to Jordan’s role in hosting refugees, serving as a safe transit hub for the evacuation of foreign nationals from neighboring countries, and delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and other crisis-affected areas.

He affirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s efforts to strengthen its resilience and contribute to regional stability. He noted that Japan’s official development assistance to Jordan has amounted to approximately USD 4.335 billion since 1974, in addition to USD 12.5 million in humanitarian assistance in FY2025 through six UN agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Ambassador also addressed the broader challenges facing the world, foremost among them the growing pressures on the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and the need to strengthen global governance and collective action on issues such as climate change, non-proliferation, economic security, and the challenges posed by scientific and technological advancement.

In this context, Ambassador Asari explained Japan’s response to these challenges, highlighting the importance of strengthening the rules-based international order and the rule of law, as well as the role of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and cooperation with like-minded countries in this regard. He also elaborated on Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” initiative and the enhancement of economic connectivity in support of peace and prosperity. The Ambassador also described Japan’s efforts to strengthen global governance.

Ambassador Asari emphasized that the FOIP initiative is directly relevant to the Middle East, and particularly to Jordan. He noted that Japan views Jordan not only as a pillar of regional stability, but also as a potential hub for prosperity and a nexus linking the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.

Turning to bilateral relations, the Ambassador reviewed the history of the Jordanian-Japanese partnership, noting that diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1954, and that His Majesty King Abdullah II has visited Japan 15 times, including his visit in November 2025, which featured high-level strategic meetings. He affirmed that relations between the two countries are built on close friendship between the Imperial and Hashemite families, as well as wide-ranging cooperation in strategic dialogue, security and defense, development, business, and regional and international issues, including Palestine, Syria, and Iran.

He also highlighted the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, pointing to the great success of the Jordan Pavilion at Expo Kansai/Osaka, as well as areas of academic and cultural cooperation, including scholarships, Japanese language education, arts, Japanese sports, and broader people-to-people exchange.

It is worth noting that the Politics and Society Institute continues to provide a platform for policy dialogue on regional and international issues, bringing together diplomats, policymakers, researchers, academics, and experts to discuss key transformations affecting Jordan and the wider Middle East. Through such sessions, the Institute seeks to deepen understanding of regional dynamics, support informed public debate, and strengthen Jordan’s role as an active contributor to stability, diplomacy, and policy-oriented cooperation.

The session underscored the importance of building on the Jordanian-Japanese strategic partnership amid rapid regional and international transformations, and of strengthening dialogue between the two countries on regional stability, development, human security, and economic connectivity. Participants emphasized that such cooperation can further support Jordan’s role as a key regional actor and expand future prospects for Jordanian-Japanese cooperation.

It is worth noting that the Politics and Society Institute continues to provide a platform for policy dialogue on regional and international issues, bringing together diplomats, policymakers, researchers, academics, and experts to discuss key transformations affecting Jordan and the wider Middle East. Through such sessions, the Institute seeks to deepen understanding of regional dynamics, support informed public debate, and strengthen Jordan’s role as an active contributor to stability, diplomacy, and policy-oriented cooperation.