The Middle East Power Struggle and the Emerging Role of Pakistan and China.

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The Middle East Power Struggle and the Emerging Role of Pakistan and China.

Introduction

The Middle East is once again at the center of global geopolitics, with the United States, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen entangled in a complex web of conflict, rivalry, and strategic realignments. What appears on the surface as regional instability is, in reality, part of a broader struggle for influence over energy routes, maritime security, political dominance, and the future balance of power. In this evolving scenario, the roles of Pakistan and China—though less visible militarily—are becoming increasingly significant in diplomatic, economic, and strategic terms.

The Core Conflict Dynamics

United States

The United States remains deeply invested in Middle Eastern stability, primarily to secure global energy supplies, protect maritime trade routes (especially the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden), and counter Iranian influence. Washington supports Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies while maintaining a strong military presence in the region. Its actions against Iran-aligned groups, particularly Yemen’s Houthi movement, reflect a strategy of indirect containment rather than full-scale confrontation.

Iran

Iran continues to project power through a network of allied non-state actors across the region. In Yemen, its support for the Houthis has allowed Tehran to pressure Saudi Arabia and challenge US-backed regional order without engaging in direct warfare. Iran views this strategy as a cost-effective way to balance against American and Gulf influence while strengthening its negotiating position globally.

Yemen: The Battlegrounds

Yemen has become the most visible theater of this proxy struggle. The conflict is no longer only between the Yemeni government and the Houthis; it has evolved into a multilayered crisis involving internal divisions, foreign interventions, and competing Gulf interests. The Saudi-backed government, Iran-supported Houthis, and UAE-linked southern groups reflect how Yemen has turned into a regional chessboard rather than a purely domestic conflict.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE were once aligned closely in Yemen, differences have emerged over long-term objectives. Riyadh prioritizes a unified Yemeni state under a friendly central government, while Abu Dhabi has shown interest in southern autonomy, strategic ports, and maritime influence. These divergences have strained their partnership, revealing that even close allies can clash when strategic interests diverge.

Russia

Russia plays a quieter but calculated role. By maintaining balanced relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other regional actors, Moscow positions itself as a diplomatic alternative to Washington. Its primary interest lies in expanding influence, securing energy cooperation, and weakening exclusive US dominance rather than direct military engagement in conflicts like Yemen.

China’s Role: Economic Power and Strategic Restraint

China approaches the Middle East with a fundamentally different strategy. Rather than military intervention, Beijing emphasizes economic engagement, energy security, and diplomatic mediation.

China is the largest importer of Middle Eastern oil, making regional stability a core national interest. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China invests in ports, infrastructure, and industrial zones across the Gulf and beyond. Beijing maintains strong ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE simultaneously—an approach that allows it to act as a bridge rather than a partisan actor.

China’s facilitation of diplomatic engagement between rival regional powers signals a shift toward a multipolar Middle East, where influence is not monopolized by a single global power. While China avoids direct involvement in conflicts like Yemen, its growing economic footprint gives it long-term leverage over regional stability and cooperation.

Pakistan’s Role: Quiet Diplomacy and Strategic Balance

Pakistan’s role in the Middle East is often underestimated, yet it remains strategically important. Islamabad maintains close historical, military, and religious ties with Saudi Arabia while also sustaining working relations with Iran. This unique positioning allows Pakistan to act as a potential mediator rather than a participant in regional rivalries.

Pakistan has consistently advocated for dialogue, restraint, and political solutions, particularly in conflicts involving Muslim states. Its refusal to become directly involved in the Yemen war reflects a conscious policy of neutrality aimed at preserving regional balance and internal stability.

Moreover, Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China adds another layer to its relevance. As a key pillar of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan connects the Middle East with Western China through trade and energy routes. Stability in the Gulf and the Red Sea directly affects Pakistan’s economic and security interests, making it a stakeholder in peaceful regional outcomes.

Pakistan also plays a crucial role in maritime security, counterterrorism cooperation, and peacekeeping, reinforcing its image as a responsible regional actor rather than an aggressor.

The Bigger Picture: Toward a Multipolar Order

The ongoing tensions among the US, Iran, Gulf states, and Russia indicate a gradual shift away from a unipolar Middle East. China’s economic diplomacy and Pakistan’s balancing approach reflect an emerging model where influence is exercised through connectivity, mediation, and development rather than constant military intervention.

Yemen remains the most tragic symbol of this power struggle—a nation suffering due to competing regional agendas. Without inclusive political dialogue and restraint by external actors, instability will persist.

Conclusion

The current Middle Eastern crisis is not merely a regional conflict; it is a reflection of global power transition. While the United States and Iran remain locked in strategic rivalry and Gulf allies navigate their own divergences, the roles of China and Pakistan point toward alternative pathways—centered on diplomacy, economic cooperation, and strategic balance.

If these emerging actors are empowered to contribute constructively, the region may gradually move away from perpetual conflict toward a more stable, multipolar order. Otherwise, the Middle East risks remaining a battleground for external ambitions at the cost of its people’s peace and prosperity.

Syed Ali Raza Naqvi Bukhari

Unity of Peace, Economic Reform, and Global Unity

Founder & Chairman of Tehreek Istehkam Pakistan, and the author of “Law of God” and “Social Democratic System.” Advocate for truth, social justice, and reform in all sectors of society.