Jonathan Fulton
@jonathanfulton.bsky.social
Associate professor of political science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Nonresident senior fellow at Atlantic Council. Research focuses on China-Middle East relations. Host of The China-MENA Podcast, author of China-MENA Newsletter on Substack.
Pinned
Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement
In this issue brief, Jonathan Fulton argues that Middle Eastern perceptions of China vary; it is seen as a cautious, transactional actor with limited capacity for addressing key regional conflicts and...
www.atlanticcouncil.org
I'm happy to share my latest Issue Brief for Atlantic Council, "Present without Impact: How the Middle East perceives China's Diplomatic Engagement," originally written for UK MoD's SONAC. Have a read, share, let me know what you think: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Fun Christmas read
December 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Fun Christmas read
Who Can Solve Iran’s Many Problems? Not I, Says the President. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
Who Can Solve Iran’s Many Problems? Not I, Says the President.
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Who Can Solve Iran’s Many Problems? Not I, Says the President. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...
When Wang Yi came to the Gulf the China-GCC FTA was high on his agenda. In my latest column for AGBI I write about why I don't see a FTA any time soon: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Beijing’s Gulf trade charm offensive meets familiar resistance
A GCC-China trade deal (free trade agreement / FTA) promises multilateralism but threatens nascent Gulf manufacturing
www.agbi.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:40 AM
When Wang Yi came to the Gulf the China-GCC FTA was high on his agenda. In my latest column for AGBI I write about why I don't see a FTA any time soon: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
The SCO is running Sahand 2025 joint security exercises in Iran. Not to inflate the organizational significance of the SCO, but it does represent a well-timed gift for the Iranian government. chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/sco-runs-s...
SCO Runs Sahand 2025 Joint Exercises in Iran
Plus: Syria-Xinjiang analysis, Chinese investment in Egypt's SCZone, ChinaMed analysis on Moroccan FM visit to China, UAE delegation to PRC on education and AI
chinamenanewsletter.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:24 AM
The SCO is running Sahand 2025 joint security exercises in Iran. Not to inflate the organizational significance of the SCO, but it does represent a well-timed gift for the Iranian government. chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/sco-runs-s...
A sobering read from @yarotrof.bsky.social: www.wsj.com/world/china/...
A Newly Confident China Is Jockeying for More Global Clout as Trump Pulls Back
Feeling empowered after a clash over trade, Beijing is looking to exploit America’s inward turn.
www.wsj.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A sobering read from @yarotrof.bsky.social: www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Up next: Canada First, Not Canada Alone by @asamckercher.bsky.social and @achapnick.bsky.social. One chapter in and really enjoying
November 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Up next: Canada First, Not Canada Alone by @asamckercher.bsky.social and @achapnick.bsky.social. One chapter in and really enjoying
Nothing's shocking: www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | Trump, After Call With China’s Xi, Told Tokyo to Lower the Volume on Taiwan
Japan, a U.S. ally that had angered China on Taiwan, found the message worrying.
www.wsj.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Nothing's shocking: www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
In my latest column for AGBI I looked at recent visits to the UAE from South Korean President Lee and Canadian PM Carney. Middle powers in the Middle East: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Visits by Canada and South Korea show the UAE is not all about the superpowers
Visits to the UAE from leaders from Canada and South Korea remind us that there is still room for countries other than the US and China
www.agbi.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:38 AM
In my latest column for AGBI I looked at recent visits to the UAE from South Korean President Lee and Canadian PM Carney. Middle powers in the Middle East: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Highly recommend @edwardluce.bsky.social fantastic bio of Brzezinski. Biography and history done well.
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Highly recommend @edwardluce.bsky.social fantastic bio of Brzezinski. Biography and history done well.
Some weekend reading: www.nids.mod.go.jp/english/publ...
China Security Report
The National Institute for Defense Studies
www.nids.mod.go.jp
November 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Some weekend reading: www.nids.mod.go.jp/english/publ...
CSIS director outlines security threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, India - National | Globalnews.ca globalnews.ca/news/1152323...
Global News | Breaking, Latest News and Video for Canada
Globalnews.ca – Watch and read Canada’s Breaking news plus Business, Health, Politics and World News
Globalnews.ca
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 AM
CSIS director outlines security threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, India - National | Globalnews.ca globalnews.ca/news/1152323...
Just got the hard copy of this latest book for my series. Public Diplomacy between Asia and the Middle East will be useful for a lot you you. Congrats to Francesca Frasseneti, Sook Jong Lee, & Chiara Lovotti for a great contribution.
November 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Just got the hard copy of this latest book for my series. Public Diplomacy between Asia and the Middle East will be useful for a lot you you. Congrats to Francesca Frasseneti, Sook Jong Lee, & Chiara Lovotti for a great contribution.
My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Chinese-Saudi investment is not quite a two-way street
Chinese capital has been flowing generously into Saudi Arabia but there has been remarkably little moving in the other direction
www.agbi.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Reposted by Jonathan Fulton
Next week: AGSI will host a discussion on the trajectory of China's presence in the Middle East with @jonathanfulton.bsky.social and moderated by Robert Mogielnicki. Register today.
Book Talk: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math - Arab Gulf States Institute
On September 18, AGSI will host a discussion on the trajectory of China's presence in the Middle East.
agsi.org
September 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Next week: AGSI will host a discussion on the trajectory of China's presence in the Middle East with @jonathanfulton.bsky.social and moderated by Robert Mogielnicki. Register today.
Reposted by Jonathan Fulton
Event 9/18: Book Talk: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China’s Middle East Math with author @jonathanfulton.bsky.social, moderated by Robert Mogielnicki. Register now. agsi.org/events/book-...
Book Talk: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math - Arab Gulf States Institute
On September 18, AGSI will host a discussion on the trajectory of China's presence in the Middle East.
agsi.org
September 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Event 9/18: Book Talk: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China’s Middle East Math with author @jonathanfulton.bsky.social, moderated by Robert Mogielnicki. Register now. agsi.org/events/book-...
The Shanghai Cooperation Summit is in full swing in Tianjin, with Iranian and Turkish presidents and Egyptian PM in attendance. If you're looking for MENA-SCO content: chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/shanghai-c...
Shanghai Cooperation Summit in Tianjin
So, today is Day 2 of the SCO Summit in Tianjin.
chinamenanewsletter.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 7:36 AM
The Shanghai Cooperation Summit is in full swing in Tianjin, with Iranian and Turkish presidents and Egyptian PM in attendance. If you're looking for MENA-SCO content: chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/shanghai-c...
A lot of China-MENA content in the newsletter today, including KSA investment delegation in PRC and China-Arab States Expo: chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/saudi-inve...
Saudi investment delegation in China, PRC solar investments, China-Arab States Expo, and lots more
Far too much content to cover in the title line today...
chinamenanewsletter.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:08 AM
A lot of China-MENA content in the newsletter today, including KSA investment delegation in PRC and China-Arab States Expo: chinamenanewsletter.substack.com/p/saudi-inve...
My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
China and Oman converge on solar
China's relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE may get the limelight but Oman has its own interesting bilateral relationship
www.agbi.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...
Fun to come home to a box full of books.
August 25, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Fun to come home to a box full of books.
Nice to see @abuaardvark.bsky.social reviewed my book alongside the excellent recent one from @andreaghiselli.bsky.social and Mohammed Alsudairi.
What China wants in the Middle East- review essay on two new books, one by @jonathanfulton.bsky.social and one by Mohammed Alsudairy and Andrea Ghiselli. They don’t see a real Chinese challenge on the horizon - but I wonder if Trump will force its hand.
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-china-w...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-china-w...
What China wants in the Middle East
A little book review essay on a critical subject to launch the new semester.
Thank you so much for subscribing to Abu Aardvark's Ghost and the MENA Academy (sounds like a killer indy band, right?). M...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io
August 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Nice to see @abuaardvark.bsky.social reviewed my book alongside the excellent recent one from @andreaghiselli.bsky.social and Mohammed Alsudairi.
Reposted by Jonathan Fulton
Les chercheurs du CÉPI @thomasjuneau.bsky.social et @srdj.bsky.social travaillent depuis plusieurs années sur un projet consacré à la politique de défense canadienne. Le volume 1 a été publié en 2020, le volume 2 en 2023, et le travail sur le volume 3 débutera dans les prochains mois !
August 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Les chercheurs du CÉPI @thomasjuneau.bsky.social et @srdj.bsky.social travaillent depuis plusieurs années sur un projet consacré à la politique de défense canadienne. Le volume 1 a été publié en 2020, le volume 2 en 2023, et le travail sur le volume 3 débutera dans les prochains mois !
I'll be giving a book talk at Atlantic Council on August 27 to discuss Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math. Register through the link and tune in to learn more about China's economic statecraft in the Middle East. www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/book-t...
Book talk: China's Middle East math
Jonathan Fulton explores the expansion of Chinese power and influence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects undertaken in the “1+ 2+ 3 cooperation ...
www.atlanticcouncil.org
August 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I'll be giving a book talk at Atlantic Council on August 27 to discuss Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math. Register through the link and tune in to learn more about China's economic statecraft in the Middle East. www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/book-t...