China’s Expanding Middle East Footprint: Key Trends for 2025

A man in Tehran holds a local newspaper reporting on its front page the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023. ATTA KENARE / AFP

China’s engagement in the Middle East has grown significantly in recent years, driven by its quest for energy security, global influence, and economic connectivity through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By 2025, three key trends are likely to shape Beijing’s approach to the region, highlighting both opportunities and risks for China and the Middle East’s fragile geopolitical landscape.

1. Expanding Economic Integration Through the BRI

The Belt and Road Initiative remains the cornerstone of China’s Middle East strategy. By 2025, we can expect a surge in infrastructure investments, trade agreements, and technological partnerships. Projects like industrial parks in the Gulf and renewable energy initiatives in North Africa are set to deepen China’s economic footprint.

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by Conrad Juliá

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