China’s Geopolitical Interests beyond the Middle East: Implications for Europe

This paper analyses the shifting dynamics of contemporary international relations, focusing on the expansion of China's geopolitical and economic influence beyond the Middle East into Europe. Amidst intensifying Sino-American strategic competition and growing transatlantic tensions—exacerbated by shifting United States foreign policies and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war—European nations face complex systemic challenges. By leveraging flagship initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and robust soft-power mechanisms, Beijing has firmly established itself as a critical trading partner and infrastructure investor across the European continent. This study evaluates how Europe navigates the delicate balance between maintaining vital economic interdependencies with China while safeguarding its national security, strategic interests, and political autonomy within an emerging multipolar world order.