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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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:

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

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...

A 20% discount for my book, Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math. Promo code 25AFLY1. Order via the link in the comment.

A special moment that never gets old, unboxing a new book after years of work on it. Please help me welcome The Second Emancipation: Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism, and Global Blackness at High Tide.

Today is Book Day! My latest, Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math, is out in the world now. www.routledge.com/Building-the...

In my newsletter today I wrote about the myth of Chinese leverage in Iran - the idea that Beijing's economic importance results in political influence with Tehran. Have a read, share, subscribe: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

I talked China-Gulf with Duncan Hewitt for his China in Context podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Fun! My book has a landing page now, and starts shipping this week. www.routledge.com/Building-the...

NEW: Israel’s bombings have shaken Tehran, upended its balance and killed hundreds of civilians. The sociologist Asef Bayat reflects on his hometown and its people’s spirit of care, resilience and quiet determination to carry on, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social. newlinesmag.com/first-person...

My latest column for AGBI: www.agbi.com/opinion/trad...

In my newsletter today I highlight some of the China-MENA stories that have flown under the radar while the world's attention is focused on conflict between Israel and Iran: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

This is a great book. Highly recommend for fantastic insights into politics and economy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Very happy to announce that Todd Hall and I have just signed the advance contract for a new @universitypress.cambridge.org Element book in the Global China series. Stay tuned 😎

Every time there’s footage of a city in this region alight with fires & smoke from airstrikes I’m transported back to my 11 year old self watching Baghdad’s skies fill with smoky fog when the Clinton administration hit. Every person in this region has a memory trigger that has formed them as people.

“I gave Iran a chance to make a deal” but “they just couldn’t get it done.” www.wsj.com/world/middle...

My take on how we can expect Beijing to react to Israel's attack on Iran: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

My latest for Atlantic Council looks at India-GCC relations, a topic that seems obvious inside the Gulf but probably doesn't get enough attention from outside: www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...

If your “business model“ depends on theft to succeed, then you don’t have a business. You have a criminal enterprise. 

A lot of you will want to read this

In my latest China-MENA Newsletter I look at the recently concluded China-Egypt joint air force exercises. Interesting development in the relationship. Have a read, subscribe, let me know what you think: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but the orcas now have two F/A-18 Hornets

Over at my China-MENA Newsletter, a roundup of all the stories covered over the past week. After a relatively quiet period, there's been a lot happening. Have a look, subscribe, share: open.substack.com/pub/chinamen...

My new avi is the cover of my forthcoming book America’s Middle East, published by @hurstpublishers.bsky.social. If you think I seem angry on here about US support for the destruction of Gaza and the ruination of the region, just wait. Pre-order here. www.hurstpublishers.com/book/america...

Canadians are now labeling food with a “T” symbol if it’s American and impacted by tariffs. RIP American-made food sales.

Just received a copy of the latest book in my Routledge series, Changing Dynamics in Asia-Middle East Relations. Zhang Chuchu's China's Changing Role in the Middle East: Filling a Power Vacuum? Many of you will definitely want to read this.