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Jonathan Fulton

@jonathanfulton.bsky.social

1.3K followers 260 following 320 posts

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.

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Mar 14

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...

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

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · 7d

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

Reposted by Jonathan Fulton

AGSI @gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · 26d

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

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Reposted by Jonathan Fulton

AGSI @gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · Sep 8

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

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Sep 1

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

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 29

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

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 28

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

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 25

Fun to come home to a box full of books.

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 25

Nice to see @abuaardvark.bsky.social reviewed my book alongside the excellent recent one from @andreaghiselli.bsky.social and Mohammed Alsudairi.

Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · Aug 22

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...

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

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Reposted by Jonathan Fulton

CIPS / CÉPI @cepi-cips.bsky.social · Aug 19

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 !

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 15

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

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Aug 2

I spent decades at Columbia. I’m withdrawing my fall course due to its deal with Trump | Rashid Khalidi www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I spent decades at Columbia. I’m withdrawing my fall course due to its deal with Trump | Rashid Khalidi

The university’s draconian policies and new definition of antisemitism make much teaching impossible

www.theguardian.com

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 30

The Olander Bump in my book sales, coming up!

Reposted by Jonathan Fulton

The China-Global South Project @chinagsproject.bsky.social · Jul 29

China–Middle East Analysis and the Future of China–middle East Studies.

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 23

My latest newsletter looks at Egypt as an SCO dialogue partner, among other issues: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

From Dialogues to Deals: Egypt’s Calculated Dance with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Also: WSJ on China's decreasing energy imports, China-Russia-Iran meeting in Tehran, SCZone investment tour in China, Saudi competing in renewables

open.substack.com

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 21

My latest column from AGBI, looking at Li Qiang's visit to Egypt: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad.... #china #egypt

Li Qiang's Cairo visit marks deepening China-Egypt ties

Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid a two-day visit to Egypt last week, stopping in Cairo on his way home from the Brics+ summit in Brazil

www.agbi.com

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 19

A fun birthday gift: @keeganmatheson.bsky.social’s great new addition to the @bluejays.com library.

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 18

A roundup of recent developments in China-MENA relations, including a potential eVTOL deal with the UAE and an expansion of China's presence at SCZone in Egypt: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

Air taxis and freight trains

Also: Chinese expansion in Egypt's SCZone, big contract for CHEC in Saudi, coverage of SCO Ministers' Meeting

open.substack.com

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 18

I spoke with CNN for this piece on Iranian FM Araghchi's recent trip to Tianjin for the SCO Ministers' Meeting:
www.cnn.com/2025/07/18/c...

Analysis: China was on the sidelines of the Iran-Israel war. That’s just where it wanted to be | CNN

Weeks after his country was battered by waves of Israeli strikes and the US bombed three of its prized nuclear facilities, Iran’s foreign minister came to a gathering of regional diplomats in China th...

www.cnn.com

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 17

If there’s a better way to write a column I haven’t found it yet.

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 17

I had fun talking with Eric Olander again for his must-listen China in the Global South Podcast. We discussed my new book and China-MENA in general. Always enjoy doing this show. Have a listen, subscribe and support the work Eric and his team is doing. chinaglobalsouth.com/podcasts/pod...

China’s Middle East Math

There was widespread disappointment in Iran that China didn't do more to help Tehran during the recent 12-day war with Israel and the United States. Beijing, for its part, offered robust rhetorical an...

chinaglobalsouth.com

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 14

FM Araghchi is in China for the SCO Ministers Meeting. I wrote about Iran's minimal expectations here: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

Photo Ops and Paper Partnerships: Iran’s Lonely Road to Tianjin

Also: antidumping disputes between GCC & PRC; coverage of Li's Egypt visit

open.substack.com

Reposted by Jonathan Fulton

Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · Jul 11

1/I’ve obtained a farewell note a person in the human rights bureau sent out to his colleagues after being fired from the State Department today. A few tidbits from it:

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 11

Got some fantastic summer reading in the mail today - recent books by @valinasr.bsky.social and @elhamfakhro.bsky.social.

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Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 11

Key takeaways from Li's visit to Egypt, as well as Iran and BeiDou satellites and a joint energy transition fund for Oman. Subscribe to the newsletter to get up to speed on China-MENA.
open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

China’s Cairo Visit: What Li Qiang’s Trip Signals for Egypt, the Arab League, and the Region

Also: Iran and BeiDou satellites, a joint energy transition fund with Oman

open.substack.com

Jonathan Fulton @jonathanfulton.bsky.social · Jul 10

open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

The Israel-Iran War and Chinese Status in the Middle East

Ever since the Israel-Iran cease fire took hold, I’ve been seeing a steady stream of articles with a focus on China’s diminished status in the Middle East, as if suddenly everyone in MENA collectively...

open.substack.com

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