Talk
China in the Sahel Region: A Game- Changer for Atlantic Competition?
Tiago Botelho dos Santos (Santos, T. B.); Diogo Borges (Borges, D.);
Event Title
23rd Annual Conference of the Transatlantic Studies Association
Year (definitive publication)
2025
Language
English
Country
Portugal
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Abstract
Recent geopolitical developments in the Sahel region of Africa have been marked by a notable escalation in the competition among international powers. The intensification of China's engagement in this area has significantly impacted the geopolitical landscape, challenging the traditional dominance of Atlantic powers. This study analyses the drivers and implications of China's growing presence, examining how its economic, political, and security initiatives are impacting the traditional geopolitical landscape of the region vis-à-vis the traditional influence of Western countries. China's resource-driven investments in mining and energy, coupled with strategic partnerships with Sahelian governments, are creating alternative avenues for development and challenging the traditional dominance of Western actors. The present article contends that China's expanding presence in the Sahel is not merely an economic phenomenon, but rather a meticulously devised geopolitical strategy aimed at securing access to resources, expanding its diplomatic influence, and projecting its power across the African continent. The study will focus on an analysis of the case study of the G5 Sahel, as it has been the primary source of alteration to regional dynamics. The study's objective is to illuminate an understudied subject area that is increasingly pertinent as the prevailing Atlantic power structure undergoes transformation in response to these developments.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
China,Sahel,Africa,BRI