Has great-power politics fanned the flames of war in Middle East?

As Israeli bombs continue to pound Tehran and other sites throughout Iran, we are witnessing the logical conclusion of a long cycle of escalation and geopolitical intrigue in the Middle East. Despite multiple efforts by various actors to resolve the region’s deep contradictions through diplomacy, the fate of the Middle East appears, once again, to be decided by force.

The Abraham Accords in 2020 marked a watershed moment, as multiple Muslim-majority nations normalised ties with Israel, marginalising the Palestinian cause in the process.

Just as momentum appeared to build towards an eventual Saudi-Israeli normalisation deal, China staged its own diplomatic surprise, brokering a detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It was Beijing’s first significant foray into Middle Eastern peacemaking, boosting its confidence and ambition to become a global broker.