In this episode of MEnbar, host Marc Owen Jones welcomes Adel Abdel Ghafar, Fellow and Director of the Foreign Policy Program at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, to explore the shifting dynamics of Gulf–Asia relations. Ghafar discusses China's growing influence across the Middle East, including its role in energy and infrastructure, arms sales, and advancements in emerging technologies. He examines how Gulf states are positioning themselves as “middle powers” by adopting multi-alignment strategies that balance relationships with China, the United States, and key Asian partners such as India and South Korea. The episode also explores the region’s increasing engagement with non-Western institutions, such as BRICS, evolving trade and currency systems, and the broader implications for the global order as Gulf countries redefine their roles in an increasingly multipolar world.
**This episode was recorded prior to Israel's attack on Iran.