China's Growing Interest in the Middle East: Implications for US Role

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the shift of power from the US to China in the Middle East without paying attention to some of the most vital economic factors such as energy supply, infrastructural investments and trade. Using qualitative research, the study employs secondary research that involves surveying of peer academic journals, government data, and trade statistics. Also, it involves a comparative analysis of the economic factors and strategic policy comparison. According to the findings of the study, the oil imports and investments of China today are remapping the Middle East economy and poised to dethrone the American dominance in the region. The Chinese model is focused on economic relations and exchange and does not meddle in the domestic affairs of its counterparts, which is why many Middle Eastern countries looking for diversification and reliability are interested in this approach. Such a shift is capable of leading to new alignments of power on the international and regional levels or even the fall of American hegemony. The study also reveals the fact that the US must alter its strategy in order for it to be effective; the plan that the study recommends includes diplomacy and aid and also a cooperative approach, some economic incentives and a collaborative strategy. Some of the findings that have been established across the Middle Eastern countries include the need to be able to manage relations with superpowers and defend national interests as crucial for sustainable development. The implication for international ties, therefore, underscores a shift in the nature of power relations within the global system, hence the need to study further the social-political impact of Chinese financial engagement as well as the changing nature of the uneasy relationship between the US and China.