The Growing Role of North African Countries in China's Grand Strategies: Advantages and Challenges

Document Type : Original Research

Author
H. Ebrahimnia
Researcher, Political Studies Group, Center for African Studies (Tarbiat Modares University)Researcher, Political Studies Group, Center for African Studies (Tarbiat Modares University)
Abstract
This article examines the growing relationships between China and North African countries, focusing on the economic, diplomatic, and security aspects of these interactions. The primary research question is how China has managed to expand its presence in North Africa and what impact this expansion will have on these countries' relationships with their traditional Western partners. The research hypothesis is that while the development of China's relations with North Africa creates new economic opportunities for these countries, it may also lead to challenges in their relations with Western countries. The findings indicate that although China's relationships with North Africa provide numerous economic and infrastructural opportunities, they could lead to tensions with these countries' traditional Western partners. Additionally, regional security issues such as the Western Sahara conflict and the Libyan war may require more active Chinese participation. Therefore, the research aims to describe, analyze, and interpret the collected essential information considering the sensitivity and fluidity of the topic, assessing the impact of the variables on each other. The study is applied in nature and adopts a descriptive and analytical approach with a documentary-library collection model and a case study method for the mentioned countries. It aims to provide a thorough examination of the grand strategies to better understand the dynamics of China-North Africa relations and their implications for the global order.

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