The Middle East as an Arena of the Sino-American Rivalry

The article examines features of great power competition between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA1). The study reviews China’s MENA policy documents as well as how this policy is implemented. China’s cooperation with MENA states can be divided into three main groups: 1) energy cooperation; 2) trade, infrastructure and investment cooperation; 3) cooperation in the fields of high-tech and nuclear technologies. The economic rise of China in the post-bipolar period led to a dramatic increase of China’s presence in the region and the development of mutually beneficial ties with all regional states. However, the increased presence of China in the region raises concerns in the United States. The author claims that Washington’s efforts to contain China in the region can be divided into two groups: 1) bilateral dialogues with regional states to limit China’s presence; 2) regional initiatives (I2U2 and IMEC) designed as a response to the Belt and Road Initiative, with India having special role in them. Moreover, the article notes the continuity of the U.S. policy aimed at containing China’s influence in MENA. The implementation of these projects faces difficulties due to rising tensions in the region and the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite successful examples of the U.S. pressure on the Israeli-Chinese and Emirati-Chinese tracks, MENA states mostly opt for a balanced approach, as they do not take sides in the great power competition and continue their cooperation with both great powers. 

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