United Arab Republic–Jordan Defense Agreementinterests of the two States.
Article 11. This Treaty is concluded for a term of twenty
years. It shall remain in force for an additional ten years unless
one of the High Contracting Parties denounces it twelve
months before the expiry of the said term.
In the event of the establishment of a unified, democratic
German State which meets the requirements of international
peace and security, the further validity of the Treaty shall be
reviewed.
Article 12. This Treaty is subject to ratification and shall
enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments
of ratification, which shall take place at Berlin as soon as possi-
ble.
This Treaty shall, in conformity with Article 102 (1) of the
Charter of the United Nations, be registered with the Secretariat
of the United Nations.
Done at Budapest on 18 May 1967, in duplicate in the
Hungarian and German languages, both texts being equally
authentic.
For the Hungarian People’s Republic:
KÁDÁR JÁNOS LOSONCZI PEL
FOCK J.
For the German Democratic Republic:
W.ULBRICHT
W. STOPE
4.1383 United Arab Republic–Jordan Defense
Agreement
Alliance Members:United Arab Republic (Egypt-Syria), Jordan, and
Iraq (joined on June 4, 1967)
Signed On:May 30, 1967, in the city of Cairo. In force until March 26,
1979.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:International Legal Materials,ser. 6, vol. 3, p. 516–517.
SUMMARY
The United Arab Republic–Jordan Defense Agreement was signed just
prior to the Six-Day War. On May 23, 1967, the UAR denied Israeli
shipping rights in the Strait of Tiran. Israel immediately declared this
an act of war, and many Arab countries rushed to the defense of the
UAR. Jordan, the first to do so, allowed Egypt to control its army if
war broke out.
During the next several days, Iraq pledged to support the UAR, and
Libya declared it would refuse oil to any country that aided Israel in
any way. President Nasser stated that any use of the Gulf of Aqaba
would be considered as a transgression on the sovereignty of the UAR
and would be an act of war. Israel launched a massive preemptive
strike and won a short war, forcing a favorable cease-fire that was
negotiated on June 10. This alliance continued after the war for more
than a decade but finally ended when the Arab League broke relations
with Egypt in 1979 in response to Egypt’s signature of the Camp
David accords, which officially recognized the sovereignty of Israel.
Alliance Text
The Governments of the United Arab Republic and the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in response to the wishes of the
Arab people in each of the two brotherly countries, inspired by
their absolute faith in the common destiny and unity of the
Arab nation, and with a view to unifying their efforts to insure
and protect their security and national ideals, have agreed to
conclude a joint defense agreement to realize those aims in the
following manner:
Article 1. The two contracting states shall consider any
armed aggression against either as aggression against both
countries. Therefore, acting on the basis of the legitimate right
of individual and collective self-defense, each is obligated to go
to the aid of the state which is the victim of aggression and
forthwith take every measure and use all means at its disposal,
including the use of armed forces, to repulse the aggression.
Article 2. The contracting states shall consult, at the request
of either state, on important international conditions affecting
the security or independence of either. In the event of impend-
ing war or the sudden occurrence of a menacing situation, the
two contracting states shall immediately take the preventive and
defensive measures warranted by the situation.
Article 3. In the event of a sudden attack on either of the two
contracting states, the two states shall, in addition to the mili-
tary measures required to deal with the attack, decide immedi-
ately upon other measures to be put into force under the plans
concluded under this agreement.
Article 4. In pursuit of the aims of this agreement, the two
contracting states have decided to establish the following main
bodies:- A Defense Council
- A Joint Command which shall consist of:
A. A Council of the Chiefs of Staff
B. A Joint General Staff
Article 5. The Defense Council shall consist of the ministers
of foreign affairs and defense or war in the two countries. The
Council of the Chiefs of Staff shall be responsible to the Defense
Council.
The functions of the Defense Council shall include:
A. To prescribe the general principles and bases of the policy
of cooperation between the two countries at all levels to
repulse aggression against them.
B. To make the necessary recommendations for the direction
and coordination of the activities of the two states
designed to serve and promote the joint military effort.
C. To ratify the decisions of the Council of the Chiefs of Staff
in all matters related to the planning of operations and
the preparation of the armed forces of the two states.
D. To establish permanent or provisional special committees
when necessary.
E. The Council shall meet periodically once every six
months, in Cairo and Amman alternately, or when the
need arises at the request of either party.