Expanding Chinese influence across three continents through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has perturbed its regional and global rivals, India and the United States. The Western bloc – led by the United States – launched the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) at the G20 summit held in New Delhi on 10^th September 2023. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, the European Union, Italy, the United States, France, and Germany are part of this project and have signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for building this 4800 km long trade route…

By repeatedly targeting the Houthis in Yemen and pushing for an escalation in the Red Sea, the US is jumping into the Middle East with a military and strategic mindset. The objective is to create space for Washington – and its global allies – to push back against the recent gains, i.e., normalization between Iran and Saudi and Arab normalization with Syria more than a decade after the start of the so-called “Arab Spring”, that Russia and China have made. A wider war in the region will, in the US calculation at least, re-politicize regional fault lines that might allow Washington…

China has once again called for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, including a globally agreed timeline for the creation of a separate state for the people of Palestine. China’s position, which many in the West see as singularly pro-Arab, has been consistent ever since the beginning of the present phase of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has already killed more than 23,000 civilians, including more than 10,000 Children. China has been trying to navigate the crisis in a way that guards its main interests, i.e., its multi-billion dollar investment across the region…

Apparently, the Israelis have been mouthing off about purported Chinese “anti-Semitism” ever since the PRC called for an immediate ceasefire and purposeful negotiations.  This should come as no surprise, as the Chinese are falling in line with Turkey, the Muslim world and much of the Global South. Collectively, they can see the contradictions in Israel’s vengeful policies and US double standards and duplicity…

Despite the fact that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is a direct outcome of Washington’s flawed policies, the Biden administration is doing everything it can to turn this conflict into a wider war in the region. Providing US$3.8 billion in military aid to Israel versus US$100 million only for Gaza clearly demonstrates Washington’s priorities. For this reason, Arab states, including the UAE, otherwise signatories of the now infamous Abraham Accords, are not only criticising Israel but also showing who they think is the best possible global power that must side with them vis-à-vis Israel and in support of Palestine…

The United States policy shift from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific has provided space for China to expand its influence in the region. China is now reshaping the regional dynamics in the Middle East by playing a larger-than-ever role. Recent developments in the Saudi-Iran deal and the inclusion of some Middle Eastern Countries in the BRICS indicate China’s interests in the Middle Eastern region encompass economic, geopolitical, and strategic issues along with traditional energy needs. China has established closer relations with multiple regional organizations for many years, but is now expanding…

Termed Saudi’s “new oil” industry, tourism ranks very high on Riyadh’s Vision 2030 strategic plan for the country’s economic transformation away from reliance on oil as the major source of revenue. According to the plan, the Saudis aim to raise about US$46 billion annually from tourism by the end of this decade, i.e., by 2030. Saudi’s goal and China’s contribution to world tourism seem to have a perfect synergy. Before Covid, 155 million Chinese tourists spent US$250 billion world-wide. With Saudi Arabia looking to attract tourism, China becomes a natural partner…

There has been a marked shift in the balance of power in the world as the US has recently intensified its attempts to regain world domination, including through sanctions against countries trying to demonstrate their independence from Washington. And in this respect, Beijing’s attempt to create a multipolar world based on an alliance with countries...