China in the Mediterranean: Geopolitical Implications of a Rising Power

Abstract

China’s growing presence in the Mediterranean region is a defining feature of the evolving geopolitical landscape. Rooted in the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s engagement involves economic outreach, infrastructure investment, and strategic diplomacy. This article examines the drivers, instruments, and implications of China’s Mediterranean strategy, paying particular attention to regional connectivity, energy security, and the evolving balance of external influence. Chinese investments in critical maritime infrastructure, most notably in ports in Türkiye, Greece, Italy, Israel, and North Africa, have strengthened China’s position in global supply chains and offered Mediterranean states alternative avenues for economic development. Concurrently, China has deepened its cooperation in technology, renewable energy, and digital integration, thereby expanding its soft power in the region. However, this engagement also generates complex tensions in the region, requiring Mediterranean countries to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of growing rivalry between China and the U.S., European concerns about strategic dependence, and regional sensitivities regarding governance and security. The article argues that China’s role in the Mediterranean reflects a pragmatic and adaptive strategy shaped by global competition and regional opportunity, in which influence is mediated by institutional density and local agency rather than exercised through unilateral coercion or ideological commitment. Understanding this evolving role is essential for predicting future patterns of cooperation, conflict, and interdependence in the Mediterranean region.