ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolving roles of China and India in the Middle East, where both powers have become deeply engaged over the past three decades. Their growing dependence on the Middle East for energy, trade, and strategic access has reshaped foreign and security policies in Beijing and New Delhi, particularly in light of US retrenchment and regional instability. While China has advanced its Belt and Road Initiative and partially positioned itself as a mediator in regional conflicts, India has pursued its Think West policy through trade expansion, diaspora links, and emerging minilateral frameworks such as I2U2. The chapter highlights both competition—over ports, infrastructure, and naval presence—and occasional limited cooperation, notably in energy coordination with OPEC. The paper also looks at how regional actors have perceived the actions of these two Asian powers, emphasizing that their cautious, incremental strategies remain transactional but increasingly consequential for regional order. Ultimately, the paper assesses that a mix of rivalry and pragmatic coexistence will define their future engagement in the Middle East.
