Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

How the U.S. Should Respond to China’s Growing Military Presence in the Middle East and North Africa

The latest U.S. National Security Strategy released this month singled out China as “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” and nowhere is that contest more on display than in the Middle East. After decades of fighting wars in the region and cozying up to undemocratic governments who many in Washington find distasteful, there’s a growing perception that the U.S. has now had enough and is looking to disengage.

At the same time, China’s interests in the broader Mideast North Africa region have increased markedly in recent years, most notably in the energy sector. Over the past 15 years, the Chinese have transitioned sizable portions of their oil and gas buys from African countries (Sudan, Angola, and the Republic of Congo) to the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, UAE/Iran, and Qatar).

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.