Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics-The New Silk Road Grand Strategy and the Maghreb

Examining Chinese-North African relations through the lens of President Xi Jinping's Silk Road grand strategy, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of emerging strategic and economic partnerships in the Maghreb region. Examining Chinese-North African relations through the lens of President Xi Jinping’s Silk Road grand strategy, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of emerging strategic and economic partnerships in the Maghreb region. China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in modern history. This book argues that the BRI framework is vital in understanding the shifting balance of power within the Maghreb region and between the North African countries, the EU, the US, and China. It is argued that an increasing interdependence can be observed between China and the Maghreb in energy, construction, infrastructure building, political ties, trade and investments, financial integration, people-to-people bonds, and defence. The author reveals the complexities and challenges of Beijing's BRI, exploring how this synergy will shape the Maghreb in the future. Additionally, the book argues that the balance of global politics will be critically affected by these emerging partnerships. The book will be of particular interest to students and academics focused on interstate dynamics and foreign policy in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region, but in its global ramifications the book is also much-needed reading for those working in International Relations, Politics and Economics, and Public Policy.