Shifting Geopolitics in the Middle East amid US – China Rivalry

China’s increasing influence with the Gulf Countries and the Russia-Ukraine war has shifted the geopolitics of the Middle East. China has been increasing its economic clout in the region, but more recently, China is willing to play the role of Alternative to the United States. E.g., the normalization of Saudi-Iran relations, mediated, and brokered a peace deal by China, China also shows interest in de-escalating the Israel-Palestinian crisis.

It seems that China is interested in political and security realms. While the US is currently placing emphasis on the Indo-Pacific and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is still striving to preserve its dominant position in the region. It is worth noting that President Biden participated in the GCC meeting last year and Secretary Blinken’s recent visit to Riyadh. Did these visits communicate to China and US allies that the US plans to remain present in the Middle East?