The Belt-Road Initiative and prospects, Iraq as a model -Strategic Vision

Abstract

The Chinese Belt and Road initiative is a revival of the idea of ​​the ancient Silk Road, which dates back to the second century BC, and was a network of roads traveled by caravans to transport commercial goods between China, Central Asia, Persia, the Arabs, and Europe, and silk was one of the most important goods that China exported. China believes that this road serves most of humanity and is based on the development of a large number of regions. It is not limited to 68 countries through which roads and sea lines pass, but rather it will revive global trade and raise growth rates.

    The importance of Iraq and the Arab region, in general, emerged in the Chinese strategic perception as a source of energy. Historical studies indicate that China's relationship with the Arab region dates back to 2000 BC. The location of the Arab region in an important global strategic region near Asia and North Africa and its enjoyment of a long history, honorable civilization, and abundant natural resources, created exchanges between both the Arab-Chinese sides in various fields through what was called (the Silk Road and the Perfume Road by land and sea ). China has sought to regard Iraq as a starting point for it in the Arab world and in the Asian continent, which can serve its strategic objectives in the African continent as well and express its prestige as a great Asian power. And since Iraq is a producer and exporter of oil, therefore China views it as a country of strategic importance, and Iraq can establish a foreign policy with diverse relations and reduce the status or level of its relations with Washington and focus on increasing its cooperation with China, which does not show more interest in political affairs than in economic affairs. In addition, Iraq's relationship with China does not harm the United States of America.

China seeks to gain Iraq as a strategic ally in the region on the one hand and to preserve the source of oil supplies and investment projects on the other hand. The Chinese project ((The Belt and Road)) provides Iraq with a strategic opportunity to achieve its national interests in terms of economic and trade (transit through Iraq) towards the continent of Europe and the Levant region and vice versa, as Iraq needs to diversify the sources of national income and thus strengthen the Iraqi economy in addition to selling imports oil. Therefore, Iraq is supposed to adopt a strategic approach based on seizing the opportunities available in the international strategic environment and employing the Chinese interest in it to benefit from the initiative. Especially since China has become a center of attraction in the environment of international alliances and alliances. security, including Iraq.