The BRI and the Mashreq: the case of Israel

Several factors affect the long-term viability of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project in the Mashreq. The region is crucial to Beijing’s interests for several reasons, ranging from its abundant energy resources to its strategic location. And yet the BRI has been facing three major ongoing challenges. First, the security risk posed by complex internal situations in several countries - Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq in particular. Second, the lack of regional cooperation, caused on the one hand by the Arab-Israeli conflict, and on the other by geopolitical competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Finally, the US unwillingness to let China play a leading role in the region. Focusing on Israel as a case study, this article argues that these constraints are relevant and prevent a fully successful implementation of the BRI in the Mashreq.