Jordan and the US unveiled a counter-terrorism training centre south of Amman on Thursday (March 22nd) aimed at boosting the capacity of local forces, AFP reported.
The centre connected to the Jordanian Police Academy was opened in Suwaqah, 70 kilometres from the Jordanian capital.
It aims to prepare security forces to cope with crisis management, hostage-taking, cyberterrorism and the detection of explosives.
"The anti-terrorism assistance programme for Jordan is ongoing and very important to us," Michael T. Evanoff, the US deputy secretary of state for diplomatic security, told reporters at the opening ceremony.
"The training saves lives and helps build the capacity of the host country. I am very happy to open this centre, and I look forward to its expansion and use as a central hub," he said.
It is the second centre of its kind to be launched by the US and Jordan. The two countries previously opened the King Abdullah II training centre for special operations in Zarqa, east of Amman, in 2009.
Last month, the US pledged $1.2 billion in annual aid to Jordan from 2018 to 2022.
Under the memorandum, the US will provide at least $750 million a year in economic assistance and $350 million in military aid.
