The position and role of Qatar in China’s Middle East policy

RUDN Journal of World History. 2025. Vol. 17. No. 4. P. 566–583.

Сейеди Асл С., Alamdari S. Z., Садыгзаде М. С.

The evolving dynamics of global foreign policy have highlighted economic cooperation as a critical factor in international relations post-Cold War. China’s increasing involvement in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf, has emerged as a significant development. In fact, China’s international prominence was largely attributed to its need for petroleum imports. However, as the 21st century unfolded, China’s global influence has grown substantially, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where it has expanded its economic, diplomatic, strategic, and military engagements. Considering that China-Qatar relations have intensified across political, economic, commercial, and energy sectors, the primary aim of this study is to elucidate the strategic significance of Qatar within China’s foreign policy framework. It seeks to demonstrate how Qatar’s role extends beyond merely providing natural gas, exploring the multifaceted nature of their bilateral relations. The research uses a descriptive-analytical methodology and analyzes diplomatic, economic, and security aspects of the bilateral relationship by focusing on recent developments and shifts in the geopolitical landscape. The findings reveal that Qatar’s strategic value to China extends beyond its role as an energy supplier. The relationship between the two nations is characterized by a deepening network of mutual dependency, encompassing cooperation in energy, investment, and security. This deepening of connection will make the future of China-Qatar relations, as evidenced by this growing cooperation, closer together. And the increasing importance of bilateral relations between China and Qatar for the future will be highlighted by this strengthening cooperation. Additionally, Information and research data are collected through library studies, the Internet, and quarterly journals.

Ключевые слова: energy resources, investments, security, energy cooperation, Foreign Policy, Безопасность