Jordan and Syria have agreed to form a joint panel to tackle border security, smuggling and the movement of armed groups, officials in Amman and Damascus announced on Wednesday, in the latest sign of warming ties between the two neighbours. The panel will coordinate on drug trafficking — particularly Captagon — weapons smuggling and the return of Syrian refugees, according to a joint statement. Jordan has long complained that smuggling networks operating from southern Syria pose a direct threat to its security, and has carried out airstrikes against suspected traffickers in the past. The agreement follows a series of high-level meetings between Jordanian and Syrian officials since the change of government in Damascus, and reflects a broader regional shift toward engagement with Syria’s new leadership. Both sides said the panel would meet regularly and share intelligence, while also working on border crossings to facilitate legitimate trade. Analysts cautioned that implementation will be the test, given the scale of the smuggling networks and the fragmented security situation in southern Syria. The announcement was welcomed by regional partners, who see border stability as essential to wider Middle East security.
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