China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Middle East: Energy Security, Strategic Realignment, and Geopolitical Implications

Abstract

The Middle East has variable importance in politics, the economy, and military power on the international level. It also contains a strategic point for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which focuses on the availability of the landways and seaways. China has deepened the level of relations with Middle Eastern countries after the initiation of BRI. This paper thus asks the following research question “Why does Chinese policy aim at the Middle East for BRI project? and how BRI of China will alter dynamics of Middle East? The following research questions are accordingly: In what ways are China’s relations with the Middle Eastern nations influencing, bilateral trade and commerce and efficient functioning of the Initiative. This chapter employs a qualitative approach deliberately comprising of the existing literature, policy papers as well as official declarations to provide the readers with a clear understanding of the topic. It also borrows fruitful results from the general approach that are comprehensive and accurate and immune to criticism. This analysis will be conducted in line with the concepts of realism theory. Thus, there is a logical systematic way of how China’s relations with the Middle Eastern states impacts bilateral trade, commercial relations as well as the conducive execution of the BRI. This research reveals the realism approach towards increase China’s influence in the Middle East due to diplomatic diplomacy and oil which has given the regional actor options to expand the circle of relations.

Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative, Changing Dynamics, Middle East, Bilateral Trade