Αny instability in the Middle East translates into immediate geopolitical pressure on the Indo-Pacific, with the security of maritime routes serving as the primary strategic stake
Documents: 📂 Source Document
ME Instability & the US-China Power Balance
Geopolitical Ripples: How Middle Eastern Conflict Shifts the Indo-Pacific Power Balance
Key Insights
- : How does the escalation of instability in the Middle East affect the global balance of power between the U.S. and China, and what are the secondary implications for stability in the Indo-Pacific?
- : While the U.S. faces a "credibility gap" as a security provider, China acts as a "free rider," leveraging M. Eastern energy and the BRI to bypass Indo-Pacific maritime chokepoints.
- : Escalation in the Middle East profoundly impacts the U.S.-China rivalry across both regions
28 April 2026 · 05:13 CET· Updated 12 July 2026 · 12:58 CETIssue I
Cite this brief
Gkika, E. (2026). ME Instability & the US-China Power Balance. EPIS Insight · Security Policy & Defence.
