War in the Gulf has weakened two of America’s Arab allies

Nearly two years ago, King Abdullah of Jordan assured Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi that his country would not become a "battleground for regional conflicts." A decade earlier, during his presidential campaign, Egypt's Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi had pledged to be "one step away" from protecting Gulf states' security. Today, Jordan finds itself at the heart of a regional conflict between America and Iran's foreign minister.

Egypt, on the other hand, may be a step away from offering security, but it has remained silent. While the Gulf faces its most significant threat in 35 years, Sisi has offered little more than words. The broken promises of both nations reveal the fragility of the regional order, leaving them both feeling lost.