The two-week-long Shield of the Arabs I exercise that started in Egypt on Saturday brings together troops and advisers from eight Arab nations in a glimpse of the joint strength of the region’s most powerful militaries.

But the simulation also underscores the political divisions fragmenting a unified front against Iran even as the Donald Trump administration resumes hard-hitting sanctions against Tehran this week. Qatar is excluded from the joint exercise with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Advisers from Lebanon and Morocco will also participate.

The Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), Washington’s name for a repeatedly delayed military consortium first floated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, remains slated for a delayed January rollout but could face another postponement. A US official told Al-Monitor that the Donald Trump administration hopes to see a resolution to the diplomatic row between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors before the alliance is formalized.

“The US is correct that a regional grouping should include the entire GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council],” said Zack Gold, an analyst at CNA, a Washington-based defense think tank. “If [the Americans] are sending the message of not joining an organization that doesn’t include Qatar, it’s an important message to send.” Doha said it would spend more than $1.8 billion this summer to upgrade al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts 10,000 US troops.