10 Years On: China's Belt & Road Initiative and its Future in the Middle East

In this episode, titled "10 Years On: China's Belt & Road Initiative and its Future in the Middle East," our host Jonathan Fulton delves into the current state of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for the Middle East. Jonathan will analyze the recently held Belt and Road Forum, the involvement of various countries in the initiative, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Get ready to explore the complexities of China's global infrastructure plan and its impact on the Middle East, as we discuss the geopolitical dynamics, competing interests, and potential alternatives to the BRI.

Takeaways

• Impact of the Belt & Road Initiative
• China's Strategic Goals and Future Plans
• Competition for Leadership in the Global South
• Alternatives and Response to the BRI
• The EU's Global Gateway Initiative
• China's Renewed Commitment to the BRI
• Broader Foreign Policy Strategy of China
• China's Economic Relationship with the Middle East

Quotes

"The Belt and Road Initiative exemplifies China's ambition to reshape global dynamics, providing growth alternatives to emerging nations against the prevailing US-led order." - Yun Sun

"Developing countries will continue to engage with China, but they need to negotiate for better terms and develop resilience against negative effects." - David O. Shullman

Featured in the Episode

Jonathan Fulton
Nonresident Senior Fellow for Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council. Associate Professor of Political Science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fulton-2627414b
https://twitter.com/jonathandfulton

David O. Shullman
Senior Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-0-shullman-56a85a24/

Yun Sun
Senior Fellow and Co-Director, East Asia Program, Director of the China Program, Stimson Cente
rhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yun-sun-62871729/

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
02:29 Shaping Foreign Policy: China's BRI and the Global Order
07:04 Reviving Commitments: China's Renewed Focus on the BRI
11:07 Summit Dynamics: Sparse Western Presence at the Belton Road Summit
12:37 Emerging Axis: China's Intensified Focus on the Developing World
15:48 Geopolitical Chess: China's Quest for Influence in the Global South
19:06 Global Rivalry: China's Strategy for Garnering Developing World Support
24:40 Power Balance: India's Role in the Global Competition
26:08 Mission Engagement: Challenging China's Diplomacy in Africa, Latin America, and Asia
29:56 Resilience and Revolution: Offering Digital Alternatives to the BRI
34:19 Economic Endurance: BRI's Stability Amid China's Economic Slowdown
36:57 Strategic Partnerships: Gulf Countries' Economic Diversification with China
39:56 Outro