Unpacking Influence: China's Impact on US Strategy in the Middle East

In this episode of the CHINA-MENA podcast, host Jonathan Fulton interviews Dana Stroul, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, to discuss the U.S. perspective on China's role in the Middle East. Stroul outlines the Biden administration's national security strategy, which views China as a pacing challenge and a competitor seeking to reshape the international order. The conversation explores the complexities of balancing U.S. strategic partnerships in the Middle East with the growing economic and technological influence of China, addressing concerns about technological cooperation and the importance of protecting U.S. defense relationships. They also discuss China's limited involvement in regional security issues, such as the Houthi attacks, and the potential for China to play a more constructive role by addressing Iran's destabilizing actions and investing in humanitarian aid.