US Perceptions of China's Middle East Presence
To read more on this episode and download the transcript, please follow this link: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/conte...
Amid a perceived US retrenchment from the Middle East, China has been making greater inroads in the region, most recently by brokering the Saudi-Iranian peace deal. The deal added not only a win for China, but also another layer of complexity to an already intricate regional landscape. China's expanding role in the Middle East continues to be a major topic of discussion for US policymakers as the country seeks to present an alternative to the US-led global order.
To shed light on these issues, we are joined by two esteemed US government officials from the US State Department, Dr. Julian Gewirtz and Chris Backemeyer, who join us in this thought-provoking podcast episode.
Our guests provide unique insights from a US perspective on the potential implications of China's growing presence in the Middle East. They examine the region's strategic landscape and China's efforts to replace US dominance in global governance and discuss the challenges and opportunities for cooperation between China and the US in the MENA region, as well as the priorities of the US in the Middle East. Tune in to gain a better understanding of how the US perceives and reacts to China's evolving role in the region and how recent developments may shape the region's future and US response.
Key Takeaways:
The priorities of the United States in the MENA region
US perspective on China becoming a major player in the geopolitics of the region
China's regional diplomatic and peace efforts
Opportunities and challenges for cooperation between China and US in the MENA region
The impact of the China-Iran relationship on US regional interests
Quotes:
The US is in favor of any action taken by China or other countries to lower tensions, decrease conflicts or prevent destabilizing actions in the region. - Chris
President Biden sees this decade as critical and has a strategy for China: invest, align, and compete. - Julian
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
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/ jonathandfulton
Julian Gewirtz
Deputy Coordinator for China Global Affairs
US State Department
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Chris Backemeyer
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Assistance Coordination and Regional and Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
US State Department
/ chrisbackemeyer
Chapters:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:29] US priorities on the MENA region
[06:55] China as a rising global actor
[14:03] US perspective on China’s deepening presence in the region
[20:26] China’s regional diplomatic and peace efforts in the region
[22:22] Challenges and opportunities for cooperation between China and US
[28:40] Assessing the impact of bilateral China-Iran relations on US interests
[31:30] Cooperation between China, the US, and the Middle East on climate change challenges
[36:34] Final takeaways from our guests
This podcast was produced by Heart cast Media.
https://www.heartcastmedia.com