Jordan concluded the last week of January 2026 with a complex moment, where decisive sovereign decisions coincide with concerning administrative confusion, as the regional environment sends signals that tolerate no complacency. At the forefront, the royal directives to restructure the Jordanian Arab Army mark a calculated 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, symbolically signifying the continuity of leadership amid regional uncertainty, and that Jordan's stability is a result of conscious management, not coincidence.
On the other hand, the education dossier reveals a contrasting picture. The confusion of the Ministry of Education in the mechanism of distributing "Tawjihi" students to tracks—whether it includes the 2009 generation or not, and why this ambiguity?—raises legitimate concerns among students and parents. Managing a crucial file without a clear timeline or a precise guidance manual undermines trust. Educational reform is not created by sudden decisions, but by planning, persuasion, and respecting the community's right to knowledge.
Economically, the sharp decline in gold prices was harsh, but it was not a natural correction. The market was burdened with high financial leverage and crowded trading, and with the first price reversal, margin calls were triggered, followed by a forced liquidation of positions and liquidity drying up, especially in futures contracts. What occurred was a violent dismantling of speculations, not a touching of the intrinsic value of gold as a safe haven.
Politically, the request by the Independent Electoral Commission from the Islamic Action Front party to change the name and logo sparked a broad discussion, in a context of the state's interest and entrenching organizational and symbolic separation from the Muslim Brotherhood, affirming the principle that party work is national in reference, Jordanian in decision, and governed by the Constitution and the law. It is 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 disruption in the management of some service files. Restructuring the army towards artificial intelligence is a necessary proactive step in light of potential regional escalations—including a possible American strike on Iran—which will primarily affect Jordan in security and economic terms. The upcoming phase may witness institutional tightening in security and policy, and increased pressure for administrative and educational reform—no strong state without a modern army, and no permanent stability without fair and clear education; internal ambiguity, in the long run, is more dangerous than any external threat.
