Understanding Saudi Alliances Practically

Even though Saudi Arabia's adherence to Islamic values in its governance is more strict than that found in Jordan, the two Muslim monarchies still share interests. Saudi Arabia wants to maintain strong political and military alliances with Sunni Arab nations like Jordan to help stabilize the region in its favor and to counter the rise of Shiite rival Iran, the other main contender for regional supremacy. Saudi Arabia makes and maintains its alliances by investing in its partners to strengthen them; Jordan, lacking in natural resources and vexed by conflict at its borders, accepts this foreign investment partly by choice but mostly out of necessity....