Jordan concluded the last week of January 2026 on the beat of a complex moment, where decisive sovereign decisions coexist with worrying administrative confusion, while the regional environment sends signals that cannot be tolerated. At the forefront, royal directives to restructure the Jordanian Arab Army announced a thoughtful transition from traditional modernization to a smart defense system based on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and fifth-generation warfare. The focus is no longer on quantity, but on flexibility, proactivity, and the protection of digital space and infrastructure, in a region where conflicts are managed by algorithms as much as by missiles. This coincided with the celebration of His Majesty the King's birthday, symbolizing the continuity of leadership amid regional uncertainty, and that Jordanian stability is the result of conscious management, not coincidence.
In contrast, the education sector revealed a contrary image. The Ministry of Education's confusion over the mechanism of distributing "Tawjihi" students across tracks—does the decision include the 2009 cohort or not? And why this ambiguity?—raised legitimate concerns among students and parents. Managing a crucial file without a clear timeline or a precise guideline undermines trust. Educational reform is not created by sudden decisions but by planning, persuasion, and respect for the community's right to knowledge.
Economically, the decline in gold prices was sharp, but it was not a natural correction. The market was burdened with high leverage and crowded trading, and at the first price reversal, margin calls began, followed by forced liquidation of positions and liquidity drying up, especially in futures contracts. What occurred was a violent dismantling of speculations, not a touch on the intrinsic value of gold as a safe haven.
Politically, the request by the Islamic Action Front party to the Independent Election Commission to change the name and logo sparked a broad discussion, in the context of the state's interest and the establishment of organizational and symbolic separation from the Muslim Brotherhood, reinforcing the principle that party work is national in reference, Jordanian in decision, and governed by the constitution and law. It's not targeting, but a recalibration of the party scene.
What distinguishes this week is the sharp contrast between the state's clarity in sovereign files and the turmoil in some service files. Restructuring the army towards artificial intelligence is a necessary proactive step in light of regional escalation prospects—including a potential American strike on Iran—which will have first and foremost security and economic repercussions on Jordan. The upcoming phase may see institutional tightening in security and policy, and increased pressure for administrative and educational reform, as no strong state exists without a modern army, and no permanent stability without fair and clear education; internal ambiguity, in the long term, is more dangerous than any external threat.
