In the days following the historic Jordan-European Union Summit on January 8, 2026, columnists in Jordan’s leading dailies (Al-Ghad, Al-Rai, and Ad-Dustour) analyzed the event from various vantage points. Their collective commentary blended praise for a newfound "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" with stern warnings regarding internal hurdles, while launching sharp critiques of the government’s communication strategy with the public and the press.

A Leap Toward Sustainability

Salameh Darawi, writing in Al-Ghad, characterized the summit as a pivotal turning point, marking a qualitative shift from traditional aid to a partnership built on mutual trust and shared interests. He argued that the €3 billion financial package (2025-2027) represents a fundamental transition from emergency relief to a long-term vision designed to bolster structural reforms and economic stability.

Darawi viewed Europe’s commitment to Jordan’s "Economic Modernization Vision" as tangible proof of an investment in sustainability rather than a mere temporary fix. He highlighted the upcoming April 2026 Investment Conference as a golden opportunity to translate political goodwill into jobs and industrial growth. Furthermore, he noted the expansion of cooperation into security, defense, and counter-terrorism, providing Jordan with additional tools to navigate regional storms. He concluded with a call for "conscious national management" to ensure these commitments yield results, warning that the current global climate "does not tolerate half-opportunities."

Echoing this sentiment in Al-Rai, Issam Qadamani described the partnership as a vital buffer against declining aid from other sources. He noted that the EU now views Jordan as a "stabilizing anchor" in the region, rewarding the kingdom’s serious commitment to modernization.

The Communication Gap: "Journalists, Not Orientalists"

In a more critical vein, Maher Abu Tair (Al-Ghad) penned an article titled "We Are Not Orientalists." While not addressing the summit directly, he linked the sensitive geopolitical context to a "crisis in official communication."

Abu Tair slammed the government for "drying up the wells of official information," forcing Jordanian journalists to rely on foreign and regional outlets to learn details about their own country. He argued that this dynamic turns local media professionals into "Orientalists" who observe their homeland from the outside (looking in), ultimately eroding national credibility and transparency. He demanded a systematic overhaul of how information is shared, warning that leaving the media in a vacuum allows external influences to hijack public opinion.

Internal Stability: The Red Line

In Ad-Dustour, Hussein Al-Rawashdeh shifted the focus to the domestic front. He warned that the most dangerous "recipe" for Jordanians during this difficult period is official provocation, whether through ill-conceived statements or unfair decisions.

Al-Rawashdeh emphasized that while Jordanians are willing to endure hardship for their country, they should not be treated with disregard. He called for an immediate halt to the "provocation machine," demanding accountability for "nepotism, astronomical salaries, and corruption." He explicitly linked the success of international partnerships—like the one with the EU—to internal cohesion, warning that external actors often exploit social frustration to manufacture unrest, reminiscent of the "Arab Autumn."

The Logic of Perpetual Movement

Finally, Samih Al-Maaytah (Al-Rai) placed the summit within a broader historical and strategic framework. He asserted that Jordan cannot afford to remain static in a region that "goes to sleep on one reality and wakes up to a war or a conspiracy."

Al-Maaytah noted that for over a century, Jordan has paid a heavy price for regional crises, from mass displacement to the exhaustion of resources. He argued that the kingdom’s active diplomacy is not a luxury but a survival mechanism. Even when strategic relationships are strained, Jordan never stops "repairing" them, maintaining its core alliances with both the West and the Arab world.

He concluded by highlighting that despite systematic campaigns to tarnish Jordan's image, history has vindicated the kingdom’s consistency. While others fluctuated or "secretly begged for the approval of global powers," Jordan remained a steady state, protecting its interests through a policy of harm reduction and persistent pursuit of solutions in a volatile landscape.