As 2026 dawns, Jordanian columnists find themselves grappling with a turbulent global and regional landscape, where crises of international sovereignty intersect with challenges to regional stability and domestic administrative reform. This report reviews the analytical insights of prominent writers who have tracked these shifts, organized by the specific perspectives attributed to each author.

Fahad Al-Khitan (Al-Ghad) – "Containing the Saudi-Emirati Rift"

In a strategic reading of the Gulf scene, Fahad Al-Khitan argues that the protracted Yemeni crisis is no longer the core news story. Instead, the most significant development is the "fracture" this crisis has caused in Saudi-Emirati relations. Al-Khitan asserts that the divergence in approaches toward regional files, coupled with competition over economic models, is now public knowledge. However, the "Mukalla incident" acted as the tipping point for these accumulated tensions, leading to an unexpected escalation. He describes Yemen’s current state as one of utter "loss," devoid of institutions, where tribal forces and the Houthis divide control while official "legitimacy" remains a mere ink-on-paper reality abroad.

Al-Khitan emphasizes that the urgent task today is not curing Yemen’s chronic ailments, but rather "containing the Saudi-Emirati rift" before it becomes irreparable. This warning stems from the fact that the Arab stance over the past two years has leaned on a small diplomatic working cell comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar. The writer believes any collapse in this axis will paralyze what remains of influential Arab presence in regional and international affairs, necessitating immediate action to bypass the current friction and prevent further escalation.

Maher Abu Tair (Al-Ghad) – "Internal Betrayals or Secret Deals?"

Maher Abu Tair shifts the focus to the shocking international scene: Washington’s abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Abu Tair suggests that the speed and precision of the arrest point toward "behind-the-scenes arrangements," internal betrayals, or perhaps deals with major powers like Russia and China. He deconstructs American justifications, asserting that the "War on Drugs" label is a facade. He asks bitterly: "If Washington were serious, why hasn't it arrested Bashar al-Assad, who managed a drug empire while waving the banner of 'resistance' just as Maduro did?"

Abu Tair analyzes the true motives behind the operation, narrowing them down to Washington’s desire to control the world’s largest oil reserves to secure a rapid energy alternative should war break out in the Middle East, alongside the debt-ridden U.S. economy’s need to plunder the wealth of other nations. He concludes by questioning the "silence of the people" who leave their leaders to a dark fate, warning that what occurred is a "blatant theft of geography" and resources under various pretexts, redefining the concept of occupation through a new style called "management."

Nidal Mansour (Al-Ghad) – "What if Russia Kidnapped the Ukrainian President?"

Nidal Mansour describes the kidnapping of Maduro as a "dark satirical comedy" signaling the end of the UN Charter and national sovereignty. He expresses astonishment at the disappearance of Venezuelan intelligence and presidential guards, viewing the event as the entrenchment of the "Law of Might" as a replacement for international law. Mansour believes Trump, by displaying images of the shackled president, is sending a clear "bully" message: Washington will manage the resources of rebellious states, particularly oil, to prevent rivals like China from benefiting.

Mansour pushes further by raising existential questions about the world's reaction. He warns that this behavior could embolden other nations, asking: "What stops Russia now from kidnapping the Ukrainian president? And what deters China from occupying Singapore?" He concludes that the world lacks anyone to confront American bullyism, mourning the days of international balance. For Mansour, Maduro’s fall is a harsh lesson on the dangers of the "tyranny-corruption syndrome" that leaves leaders isolated when facing a grim destiny.

Hamadeh Faraneh (Al-Dustour) – "American Bullyism"

Hamadeh Faraneh provides a deep legal and historical reading, pointing out that the American assault on Venezuela bypassed the U.S. Constitution and Congressional authority. Faraneh notes that the operation, involving 154 aircraft, had been prepared for months to "paralyze Venezuelan military capabilities." He explains that Trump has revived the "Monroe Doctrine" (dating back to 1823) to protect American economic interests and impose regional security by force in Washington’s "backyard."

Faraneh reviews a dark record of U.S. interventions in Latin America, from Guatemala in 1954 to Chile in 1973, and the 2004 abduction of Haiti’s president. The writer argues that this policy does not recognize the ballot box if results conflict with American corporate interests. He warns against statements from the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who framed the operation as a "threat message" to the entire world: that Washington is capable of using its lethal force at any time or place, effectively ending any talk of state sovereignty or the right to self-determination.

Amer Bani Amer (Al-Dustour) – "From Effort to Impact: The Government’s 2026 Challenge"

On the domestic front, Amer Bani Amer offers a critical administrative vision for the Jordanian government’s methodology as 2026 begins. He believes that after roughly a year and a half in office, the government must transition from "managing daily details" and making pressured, snap decisions toward building "stable institutional systems." Bani Amer warns that continued high-intensity "administrative plowing" causes leadership burnout, weakens the accumulation of institutional knowledge, and ties achievements to individuals rather than the system.

He calls for a methodical shift focusing on "quality of implementation" and entrenching rules of accountability, moving away from the "personalization of decisions." He views the full digitalization of services as the only way to relieve pressure on the executive branch and redistribute responsibility. Bani Amer concludes with a golden administrative rule: "Governments may be run by effort, but states are built by systems." He stresses that true success is what survives and continues efficiently and quietly without requiring daily oversight from the top, marking this as the government’s primary challenge in the coming phase.