US hails ‘critical, formidable’ relationship with Jordan

AMMAN — Jordanian officials joined the US ambassador to the Kingdom on board the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier this week, in a flight that “demonstrated the US military commitment to Jordan”, the US embassy said on Sunday.  

“Being aboard the Truman gives you an exceptional, palpable view of how formidable and critical the US-Jordanian security partnership is,” said Ambassador Alice G. Wells, who joined senior Jordanian military and political officials for the flight, was quoted as saying in a US embassy statement. 

Wells said the ship symbolised the special relationship between the allies, the embassy added in the statement.

“I can think of no more powerful demonstration of the United States’ military commitment to Jordan and the region than this ship,” she said.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea, part of a deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition against Daesh, as well as maritime security operations and security cooperation efforts, the embassy said.

As a major part of the operation against Daesh, the group has delivered the “most carrier-based ordnance of any ship throughout the conflict, substantially degrading Daesh resources and leadership”, the statement added.

The combat aircraft of the Truman Strike Group, collectively known as Carrier Air Wing 7, has completed more than 1,400 combat sorties, delivering nearly 600 tonnes of ordnance, according to the embassy.