Carnegie Expert Challenges Narrative of Great Power Competition in MENA
Amr Hamzawy, director of Carnegie's Middle East Program, has challenged the conventional narrative of great power competition in the Middle East and North Africa. His recent digital feature highlights a more nuanced picture, with significant U.S. influence persisting despite the rise of China and Russia.
Hamzawy's research reveals that Iran's strategic partnership is primarily with China, not Russia. While Russia's influence is mainly military and based on reciprocity, China is crucial to Iran's economy and trade. This counters the prevailing narrative of a one-sided direction of influence.
Hamzawy also points out that the U.S. maintains significant trade and military ties with Gulf countries, and the EU has strong trade relations with Morocco. These findings suggest a more complex web of regional alliances and influence.
In a 2016 episode of 'The World Unpacked', Hamzawy discussed these dynamics with host Sophia Besch. He highlighted China's role in mediating negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, leading to a decrease in violence levels in the Yemen civil war.
Hamzawy suggests two key changes for U.S. strategy: acknowledging regional actors' ability to seek alternatives and better publicizing its achievements in the region. He also notes that U.S. military activity often disrupts its positive impact on public opinion, which policymakers should consider due to its influence on regional politics.
