Jordan and Syria have reached an agreement to establish a joint security committee aimed at securing their shared border, addressing arms and drug trafficking, and preventing the resurgence of Islamic State militants, as stated by the Jordanian foreign minister on Tuesday.

Western anti-narcotics officials have reported that captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine-type stimulant, has been mass-produced in Syria for years, with Jordan serving as a transit route to the oil-rich Gulf states.

Since 2023, the Jordanian military has carried out several pre-emptive airstrikes in Syria, targeting militias believed to be involved in the drug trade and their associated facilities, according to Jordanian officials.

During a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasized the importance of border security, particularly concerning the threats of arms and drug smuggling, as well as the resurgence of Islamic State. “Our security is interconnected, and we will work together to tackle these shared challenges,” he stated.

Shibani, who visited Amman after trips to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates following the December 8 fall of President Bashar al-Assad, assured Safadi that drug smuggling would no longer threaten Jordan under Syria’s new Islamist leadership. “The new circumstances in Syria have eliminated the threats to Jordan’s security,” Shibani remarked. “Regarding captagon and drug trafficking, we assure you that this issue is resolved and will not return. We are prepared to cooperate extensively on this matter.”

In response to an inquiry regarding U.S. sanctions on Syria, Shibani stated that the recent decision by Washington to relax restrictions on humanitarian assistance for Syria should be viewed as a preliminary step toward completely lifting the sanctions. These sanctions were originally enacted to isolate the Assad administration due to its violent repression of dissent. He emphasized that the current sanctions significantly hinder Syria’s recovery from over a decade of brutal civil conflict.

Safadi mentioned that Jordan is prepared to supply electricity to post-Assad Syria without delay and is also making efforts to provide gas to the country.