Description
China is potentially well positioned to take a larger maritime role in the MENA region as it works
toward sustaining its blue-water naval capacity and reach. It is using new maritime geoeconomic
investments from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and Gulf to create and
fortify maritime trade and logistics networks that are growing increasingly independent from the
global system that has been dominated for so long by the United States and the West. This
system includes a new network of Chinese-dominated ports and infrastructure projects, in addi-
tion to a robust telecommunications network aided by submarine cables newly laid across the
Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. China’s
maritime geoeconomic interests are giving way to increased investments in its blue-water naval
capabilities. China wants to avoid another Libya or Yemen scenario in the future where it had to
rescue Chinese foreign nationals. To do so, it will need to take a more proactive security stance
to ensure that its growing investments and regional interests are protected. It cannot rely on
another power and therefore will need to continue the forward projection of its military and navy.
Geoffrey F. Gresh, is Professor of International Security Studies at the College of International
Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University in Washington, D.C. with a primary research
focus on maritime and naval affairs. He has previously served as the Department Chair of Inter-
national Security Studies, CISA’s thesis/portfolio co-director, and as CISA’s Director of the South
and Central Asia Security Studies Program.
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