Hundreds of Jordanian political, legal and public figures have signed an open letter calling for the withdrawal of American forces from Jordan, in a rare public challenge to the government’s close military relationship with the United States, according to The New York Times.

The letter argues that the presence of U.S. troops threatens Jordanian sovereignty and “exposes Jordan to security, political, and economic risks that serve no national interest.” It warns that the American military presence increases the likelihood of Jordan being drawn into a regional conflict “to which it is not a party.”

Jordan hosts approximately 4,000 American troops and serves as a major hub for U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Iranian missiles and drones have increasingly targeted American forces and military installations in the country, repeatedly triggering sirens across Jordan.

Some of those who signed the letter said they wanted to distinguish public sentiment from the Jordanian government’s foreign policy, which maintains close ties with Washington and relies heavily on U.S. economic and military assistance. The United States provided Jordan with $1.65 billion in aid last year, according to Jordanian officials.

The letter has not been published by Jordanian media outlets, and observers said the dangers of publicly criticizing the government make it difficult to determine how broadly the signatories’ views are shared. Hundreds of additional Jordanians have reportedly added their names since the letter was released.

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