Countering China in the Middle East
Why counter China in the Middle East? I understand if Europe wants to preserve some Middle Eastern oil import capacity. Europe depends massively on imported energy and has very little in terms of a strategy to get away from this dependence. But North America has better options and fighting for something that might not even be necessary anymore is no good use of money. Besides, Chinas energy demand depends in the end on the strength of its economy. Thats still an export machine and this machine has taken some serious kinks. Papering over problems does not make them go away. China wants the Middle East – leave it to them. Middle Eastern countries will learn a valuable (and painful) lesson.