Αny instability in the Middle East translates into immediate geopolitical pressure on the Indo-Pacific, with the security of maritime routes serving as the primary strategic stake
Documents: 📂 Source Document
ME Instability & the US-China Power Balance
Geopolitical Ripples: How Middle Eastern Conflict Shifts the Indo-Pacific Power Balance
Key Insights
- : How does the escalation of instability in the Middle East affect the global balance of power between the U.S. and China, and what are the secondary implications for stability in the Indo-Pacific?
- : While the U.S. faces a "credibility gap" as a security provider, China acts as a "free rider," leveraging M. Eastern energy and the BRI to bypass Indo-Pacific maritime chokepoints.
- : Escalation in the Middle East profoundly impacts the U.S.-China rivalry across both regions
28 April 2026 · 05:13 CET· Updated 12 July 2026 · 12:58 CETIssue I
Cite this brief
Gkika, E. (2026). ME Instability & the US-China Power Balance. EPIS Insight · Security Policy & Defence.
Continue Reading
Non-Proliferation of WMDs
Escalation in the Dark
China’s nuclear expansion is increasing uncertainty around crisis decision-making, making deterrence less predictable and raising the risk of miscalculation, especially over Taiwan.
Alliance Building
Bridging Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Security
RQ: With security theatres merging, can NATO and the IP4 build a structured partnership? Arg: Integration offers key benefits for supply chains, maritime security, intelligence, and deterrence. Conc: Waning trust in US leadership makes institutionalising these ties urgent.
R
Cyber Defence & Hybrid Warfare
Regionalising Maritime Domain Awareness in SEA
– what are the challenges inhibiting a comprehensive MDA strategy in SEA? – On a technical and governance level, SEA states are uncoordinated – states should work towards building up information sharing capacity and trust rather than solely looking to external actors.