by maildunais | 2 Aug 2021 | Narayanappa Janardhan, Nicolas Dunais
RESEARCH REPORT2 August 2021The competition between China and India continues to grow, driven by territorial disputes and China’s growing strategic dominance and assertiveness. Both countries are also increasing their demand for energy and raw materials to fuel their economic growth. In this report, Dr Narayanappa Janardhan (Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy) and Nicolas Dunais (Azal Advisors) argue that Gulf policymakers should pursue a balanced relationship with China and India, avoid “picking sides”, and where possible, encourage them to cooperate rather than compete in the commercial and security realms.
by maildunais | 28 Feb 2020 | Martin Keulertz
POLICY BRIEF28 February 2020China’s Belt and Road Initiative places the Middle East on the Western axis of the most ambitious infrastructure project in modern history, and the GCC at its energy heart. The opportunity is a new geopolitical role: the Gulf can use its location and its position as key energy supplier to China and Africa to establish itself as a political actor in its own right, akin to Europe or North America. But the risks scale with the prize — a busier Strait of Hormuz, maritime security exposure across the Arabian and Red Seas, sharpened GCC-Iran rivalry, and the competing presences of Washington, Beijing, Moscow and Ankara converging on the region. Whether the Gulf emerges as a global player or a contested corridor will depend on how deliberately it steers the Middle East through the transition.
