Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East

The Middle East (ME) is one of the most volatile regions of the world where things can change in the blink of an eye. China, once an ordinary energy customer showing hardly any interest in the politics of the ME, has turned itself into a crucial player in rapidly transforming geopolitical landscape...

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Main Authors: Arfan Mahmood, Muhammad Usman Askari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024170843
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author Arfan Mahmood
Muhammad Usman Askari
author_facet Arfan Mahmood
Muhammad Usman Askari
author_sort Arfan Mahmood
collection DOAJ
description The Middle East (ME) is one of the most volatile regions of the world where things can change in the blink of an eye. China, once an ordinary energy customer showing hardly any interest in the politics of the ME, has turned itself into a crucial player in rapidly transforming geopolitical landscape of the ME. The increasing footprints of China in the ME pose challenges to the US interests in the region. This article is an attempt to explore the dynamics of evolving competition between the US and China in the ME. It seeks to find out whether this alarmist narrative that the increasing footprints of China in the ME are a threat to the US interests and regional stability is well-put or obscures the deeper truth that China's increasing influence reflects a growing trend to multi-alignment in the ME. It further looks into the challenges faced by the US to better protect its interests in the face of rising influence of China in the region. This is a qualitative study which utilizes descriptive and analytical approaches to illustrate the dynamics of Sino-American competition in the ME. It is much easier to understand why Middle Eastern states are more attracted towards China as collaborating with a country other than the US helps them to break the shackles of US dependency. The suitable way for the US to solidify its position is through engagement than dominance.
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spelling doaj-art-f8e1c7bfe477439b82e0134dfea4837a2025-01-17T04:50:03ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41053Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle EastArfan Mahmood0Muhammad Usman Askari1Centre for South Asian Studies, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan; Corresponding author.Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, 54770, PakistanThe Middle East (ME) is one of the most volatile regions of the world where things can change in the blink of an eye. China, once an ordinary energy customer showing hardly any interest in the politics of the ME, has turned itself into a crucial player in rapidly transforming geopolitical landscape of the ME. The increasing footprints of China in the ME pose challenges to the US interests in the region. This article is an attempt to explore the dynamics of evolving competition between the US and China in the ME. It seeks to find out whether this alarmist narrative that the increasing footprints of China in the ME are a threat to the US interests and regional stability is well-put or obscures the deeper truth that China's increasing influence reflects a growing trend to multi-alignment in the ME. It further looks into the challenges faced by the US to better protect its interests in the face of rising influence of China in the region. This is a qualitative study which utilizes descriptive and analytical approaches to illustrate the dynamics of Sino-American competition in the ME. It is much easier to understand why Middle Eastern states are more attracted towards China as collaborating with a country other than the US helps them to break the shackles of US dependency. The suitable way for the US to solidify its position is through engagement than dominance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024170843GeopoliticsCompetitionRegional stabilityEngagementDominanceMiddle East
spellingShingle Arfan Mahmood
Muhammad Usman Askari
Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
Heliyon
Geopolitics
Competition
Regional stability
Engagement
Dominance
Middle East
title Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
title_full Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
title_fullStr Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
title_full_unstemmed Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
title_short Shifting dynamics of Sino-American competition in multi-aligned Middle East
title_sort shifting dynamics of sino american competition in multi aligned middle east
topic Geopolitics
Competition
Regional stability
Engagement
Dominance
Middle East
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024170843
work_keys_str_mv AT arfanmahmood shiftingdynamicsofsinoamericancompetitioninmultialignedmiddleeast
AT muhammadusmanaskari shiftingdynamicsofsinoamericancompetitioninmultialignedmiddleeast