Amman – Amid the rapid pace of volatile regional events and the changing nature of conflicts and wars, Jordanian King Abdullah II announced today the start of a comprehensive “structural transformation” through restructuring the Jordanian Armed Forces and modernizing their technological capabilities.
The Royal Message, sent by His Majesty the King to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday (January 24), was not merely procedural guidance; it announced a new military structure aimed at transitioning the Jordanian army from traditional fighting methods to new levels of technological professionalism, while enhancing its strategic deterrent capabilities and protecting Jordan’s vital interests in a complex and evolving threat environment.
The Royal Message went beyond restructuring military commands to include a comprehensive development plan for cyber operations and defense industries, in addition to building an effective, reliable, secure, and advanced command and control system within a period not exceeding three years, to keep pace with qualitative shifts in the arts of modern warfare.
**Sixth Generation Doctrine**
According to military experts, this structural transformation reflects an official realization that threats are no longer traditional and that Jordan’s geopolitics place the Kingdom at the heart of regional conflict repercussions. The Royal Message moved toward a direct solution by working on a comprehensive restructuring of the Jordanian army, developing reserve forces, and building a command and control system capable of operating in a complex operational environment extending from the military field to cyberspace.
Retired Colonel Nidal Abu Zaid, a military and strategic expert, believes the Royal Message reflects a clear transition from traditional doctrines to what is known as the “Sixth Generation Doctrine,” which is now dominating modern armies worldwide.
Abu Zaid explained that threats are no longer static or clearly defined but rather fluid and changing, making continuous development a necessity rather than a choice. He noted that this transformation aligns with modern warfare principles that rely on (Pickup) operations, focusing on precise intelligence and highly accurate specialized efforts, centered on elite forces and aviation instead of classic operations based on mobilizing large, heavy sectors.
Jordanian military expert Dr. Mahmoud Ardisat, a retired Major General, pointed out that the royal directives to restructure the Jordanian Armed Forces represent a “natural progression” given the rapid development in the use of advanced weaponry and artificial intelligence technologies in battlefields. He stated that the nature of modern wars forces armies to keep pace with these shifts, particularly in the use of drones, dealing with cyber threats, and building advanced technological capabilities. He stressed that any army that does not develop its tools and capabilities will find itself unable to handle future developments.
Regarding the regional context, Ardisat emphasized that Jordan lives in a complex security environment fraught with direct threats, noting that Israel’s actions in the region are “well-known and exclude no one,” requiring surrounding countries to remain in a constant state of alert and realize the magnitude of existing risks in what he described as a “dangerous” regional environment.
**A National Moment**
For his part, former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Mamdouh Al-Abadi noted that the Royal Message constitutes a “true turning point in the position of the Jordanian state,” stressing that what is happening goes beyond the military dimension to rearranging the general national stance.
Al-Abadi considered the Royal Message a reflection of the awareness that “the Israeli occupation works day and night to empty Palestinian land of its inhabitants and push Palestinians toward Jordan.” This makes political, military, and societal readiness essential, expressing hope that the steps stemming from these directives—including strengthening the reserve and linking the civilian sector to the defense system—will send a clear message to the Arab world that Jordan deals with its existential issues with full seriousness.
Al-Abadi stated, “Our cause today is a cause of a homeland and the future of generations in the face of a Zionist enemy that represents the real threat to us,” stressing that the message points to an expansionist Israeli vision that Amman considers a direct threat to Jordan’s security and sovereignty.
**Enhancing Readiness**
In his message to the Army Commander—reported by the Jordan News Agency (Petra)—the Jordanian Monarch called for the “Armed Forces to possess the capability to protect strategic and operational centers of gravity, employ modern defense technologies, and provide sufficient reserve forces to bolster the national security and defense system.”
These directives come in light of the Jordanian Parliament’s approval on November 7, by majority, of a draft amendment to the National Service and Reserve Service Law for 2025, thereby reinstating the mandatory “National Service” program, which had been frozen since 1991.
Accordingly, approximately 6,000 young men born in 2007, who have reached the age of eighteen, are scheduled to join Batch No. 54 on February 1st, as part of the reactivation of compulsory military service, which required every Jordanian male reaching 18 to serve for two years, with exceptions for health conditions or for an only son.
This comes amid rising regional fears following statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of committing war crimes in Gaza—last August, in which he spoke of “Greater Israel.” Amman considers this a direct threat to Jordan’s security and sovereignty, as the Israeli vision is based on expansionist perceptions that include Arab lands, including parts of Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.
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