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 is joined by esteemed guests David O. Shullman and Yun Sun to delve into the current state of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for the Middle East.

The episode analyzes the recently held Belt and Road Forum, the involvement of various MENA countries in the initiative, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the region's development agendas. 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. Assistant Professor of Political Science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi



David O. Shullman

Senior Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council



Yun Sun

Senior Fellow and Co-Director, East Asia Program, Director of the China Program, Stimson Center



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



Produced by Heartcast Media