ABSTRACT
This opening chapter examines the growth of Chinese power in the Middle East throughout the twenty-first century, emphasizing a gradual deepening of structural ties that have intensified dramatically in the period since the Belt and Road Initiative 1+2+3 Cooperation Pattern and the Industrial Park – Port Interconnectivity, Two Wings and Two Wheels Approach. While inelegantly named, these two initiatives have dramatically shaped the contours of China’s presence in the region and provide a framework for anticipating the future of China–MENA relations.
