Jordanian Analysts Clash Over US Bases, Iranian Threat on TV
A heated debate on i24NEWS Arabic's "This Evening" program saw two Jordanian analysts offer sharply contrasting views on the regional military escalation between Iran and the US, focusing on Jordan's position and the presence of American military bases.
Middle East affairs expert Alef Sabbagh argued that foreign military bases in the region, including those in Jordan, undermine national sovereignty and independent decision-making. He characterized defense agreements with the US not as mutual defense pacts but as "alliances for joint aggression against neighbors," asserting that regional air defenses primarily serve Israeli security interests, compromising the neutrality of host nations.
Political science professor Dr. Issam Malkawi strongly refuted Sabbagh's claims, defending Jordan's national sovereignty and its defense agreements with the US, which he stated have existed for decades to enhance the Jordanian army's capabilities. Malkawi labeled Iran's targeting of Jordan and neighboring Arab countries as "the behavior of the weak," questioning why Iran attacks them instead of Israel, which he called the largest US military base in the region.
Malkawi also criticized Iran's "export of revolution" doctrine, warning that popular Arab sympathy for past Iranian strikes against Israel could turn into open hostility if Iran continues to target Arab national security and infrastructure. He emphasized that Jordan is exercising its right to self-defense and building alliances.
The discussion highlighted a fundamental divergence in interpreting the regional crisis. Sabbagh views US military presence as the primary cause of instability and a direct threat to Iran, while Malkawi insists Jordan is acting within its rights and that Iran is evading direct confrontation with major powers by exporting its crisis at the expense of Arab nations' security.
