Boğaziçi University in Istanbul will host a joint international conference on 16-17 June 2025 under the title “Great Power Competition and the Middle East: Redrawing Trade Routes and Networks”. The event is being organised by the university’s Department of International Relations in collaboration with Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), the Center for Turkish Studies at Shanghai University and PLUS Institute (the Austrian Institute for International Research and Development).
The two-day conference aims to offer an in-depth reading of current global developments and analyse the dimensions of international competition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), especially in the context of reshaping global trade routes, regional and international connectivity networks, and emerging economic and political alliances. It also seeks to foster interdisciplinary academic dialogue among experts, researchers and decision-makers from around the world to better understand the nature of the challenges facing the region and to offer strategic insights into how to navigate the consequences of great power rivalries for the future of the Middle East.
The conference will feature an opening session with remarks from representatives of the organising institutions, followed by six specialised panel discussions and a final roundtable session for open debate, allowing participants to exchange perspectives and ideas on the topics addressed.
The themes to be discussed include emerging norms and alliances within the new global trade structure; the prospects for competition over trade routes and networks; the impact of 7 October 2023 on international norms; the consequences of ongoing U.S.-China rivalry for the MENA region; and the influence of shifting global power dynamics on the hierarchy of international organisations, alliances and US unipolar dominance
Another central question the conference will explore is whether major initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the EU’s Global Gateway and the Development Road project, will deepen fragmentation in the MENA region or present real opportunities to enhance regional cooperation and peace.
The conference will also examine the strategic ambitions of major competing powers – namely the United States, China and Russia – in the Middle East and North Africa, and whether the region can develop its own trade corridors or launch regional economic integration initiatives independent of external pressures.
Additional key questions to be addressed include: Can the Development Road project offer a viable or secure alternative to Russian energy for Europe? What are the roles of India and China in global supply chains, and how have these roles evolved in recent years? What are the strategic implications of India-China rivalry for supply chains and trade routes in the Middle East?
This conference is set to take place amid a complex international and regional landscape, marked by profound shifts in geopolitical balances, intensifying great power competition, and the growing strategic importance of the Middle East in global economic, trade and security equations. These conditions make it imperative to raise fundamental questions about the region’s future, develop effective strategies to navigate emerging dynamics, and explore opportunities for regional cooperation in light of the new global roadmap of initiatives.
The organisers emphasise that the conference will serve as a vital academic platform bringing together scholars, researchers and policymakers, aiming to deliver actionable, practical outcomes. The goal is to deepen global understanding of issues related to the Middle East, identify opportunities for regional cooperation and integration, and offer strategic perspectives on managing the long-term impacts of great power competition on the region’s political and economic landscape.