Saudi Arabia and Iran have normalized relations in a move set to modify the regional balance of forces. A Saudi-Iranian peace will not be durable. Indeed, there is no sign that the negotiations have resolved fundamental differences between Riyadh and Tehran, differences that run back decades. Western observers should not be fooled: the deal does nothing to stabilize the Middle East. Instead, it indicates the complete death of the Middle East status quo, and the need for forceful engagement, and a coherent strategy, on the part of the United States.

The concept of a “status-quo power” has significant merit in international relations. Yet terminological precision is crucial. A status-quo power is one that seeks to preserve the current situation, whether that be specific territorial arrangements or a regional or international system. A “revisionist” power, by contrast, seeks to modify or overturn some element of the system as it stands, if not all of it.