Infrastructure Interconnectivity under China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Persian Gulf: Implications for Domestic, Regional Dynamics and Great Power Competition

China’s expanding infrastructure engagements under the BRI and their multifaceted geopolitical and geoeconomic implications remain highly contested: Do China’s expansive connectivity projects under the BRI bolster peace and stability, or do they intensify ongoing tensions? The argument of this research is that the implications of infrastructure interconnectivity under the BRI for the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf are multifaceted and not inherently a source of either peace or conflict. Connectivity projects can be viewed as both peace promoters and risk generators, although unintentionally and inevitably. Furthermore, the research findings suggest that in the Persian Gulf, the agency of regional actors and external players (mainly the USA and its allies) is substantial in the region’s dynamics. Their respective responses and interactions with China collectively shape the region’s complex economic, security, and geopolitical landscape.