By Zohaib Gillani-
The Middle Eastern region is a global spotlight for the great powers of the world. In this region, oil is commonly known to be a political commodity. It is the primary source of energy, therefore, due to its pivotal importance; every state is concerned for its continued availability and keep to minimize import dependence. This regions plays a key role in the global oil industry because, only five Gulf oil producers possess 65% of the world’s proven oil reserves. Moreover, this region has significant importance not only for the regional actors but also for the global actors due to the security dilemma. The largest security threats and challenge to world come from the Middle East. The instability in the region makes its security vulnerable for the rest of the world. Any new event or change in the region directly affecting the global security and political environment. In the Middle Eastern politics, one cannot ignore the importance of oil and strategic international trade routes passing from the region. Therefore, it has influenced the region’s relations with the rest of the world, especially with the major powers. It also influenced the relations within the region because of the fact that the oil distribution is not uniform within the region. So, there is a tussle and rivalry among the regional players which created a very distinctive polarization between oil haves and oil haves not. Black Gold and Hydrocarbons are important factors in the politics of Middle Eastern States both with respect to regional or inter-Arab relations and with respect to international relations,i.e, relations with the industrial and other developing states. The importance of the region is not only because of oil and gas resources but it is also emerging as a global hub of commerce and finance. Before 1971, the Great Britain and after 1971, the US is one of the real balancer in the Middle Eastern Politics. The great powers had played their vital role in shaping the relations within the Middle East over half of a century. No one can deny this fact that China, Russia and India are exerting their influence in the region in terms of economy, trade, military, culture and linguistics. After colonialism, the new players rising in the region, Japan and the US had great impacts on the regional affairs. The cotemporary changes can be seen clearly as the global shift of focus to Middle East in both economic and security terms. Now, this region has become as economic hub for the rest of the world for its global trade, oil exports, huge foreign exchange reserves and unparalleled demographic advantages. However, the regional security is also a cause of concern for regional and international players. The hallmark of present Middle East is that the major players, China, Russia, Japan and India are becoming more assertive and are at the center of new economic and security architecture that is unfolding. Due to rapid rising of China as military and economic power, the USA and the West are trying to catch up and contain China’s active role in the Middle Eastern Politics. The relations among these major powers will be a critical element in shaping the regional security. As a region, Middle East is the most troubled and problematic region of the world. The collapse of Soviet Union had more profound effects on Middle Easter region than other; therefore, Russian re-engagement is a recent phenomenon. Another important development in the region is the strategic partnership between Russia and China is taking a momentum being cemented by large amount of modern defense hardware supplies to China by Russia. The resurgence of Russia in the Middle East as a major supplier of defense equipment is the most important variable in the contemporary international politics. The Arab Spring resulted into various regime changes in the Muslim World. The great powers always have great interests in the international political system; therefore, after the Arab Spring, the global powers are very keen and active regarding their commercial interests in the region. However, the traditionally strong presence of the US is not allowing the regional order to be dominated by new powers such as China and Russia. In the ongoing wave of insurgency in Syria and other parts of the Muslim World, Sino-Russian presence may play the role of a stabilizer in the regional security and stability. The US and the West are promoting democratization, freedom of expression, liberty and human rights all over the world but they do not allow this ideology in the Middle East just to protect their strategic interests in the region. Russia and China are becoming active and new players in the Middle Eastern politics. Sino-Russian alliance played a vital role in keeping peace and stability of the region by suppressing the US aggression on Syria. The US has to confront China, Russia and Iran in the security equation of the regional balance. There is a school of thought who is of the view that Russia’s increasing role in the Syrian Crisis is just to get its debts repaid for arms supplies. And for this instance, Russia vetoed the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution against Syria. In the contemporary scenario of the Middle Eastern politics, Russia and China are very active players. There is a school of thought who is of the view that Russia’s growing role in the Syrian Crisis is just to get its debt repaid for arms supplies, and is the only reason behind Russia vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria. Moscow knew the fact that Syria is not in a position to pay its debt. Russian position in this regard is rather demonstrative and articulates its solidarity with Beijing. Both China and Russia are striving hard to express their resolve and readiness to resist the color revolution in those areas where they have their traditional influence without mentioning their own state. This is exceptionally important for Beijing given the problem with Tibet and other provinces with Muslim populations (namely continuous separatist tendencies in these zones). It is the case with Russia is facing numerous domestic problems (with the permanent insurgency in North Caucasus) needs to contain socio-political issues in the whole post-Soviet era. However, post-Soviet Central Asia is the greatest source of concern for Moscow. If the Arab-Spring style revolutions spill over to the Central Asian Republics, Russia will have to face number of hostile Islamic states at its Southern borders that are unprotected. In the last few years, Moscow and Beijing have laid enormous goodwill among Arab population and governments. Putin’s gamble of standing by Assad has temporarily raised the Moscow’s influence and position in the region, and has placed Russia, as the international patron of the Iranian-Iraqi-Syria-Lebanon’s axis. But, this strategy will be failed after fall of Assad’s regime or it survives. Russia flags have replaced Americans flags as the sign of choice in popular public protests. Beijing’s position has been less prominent than that of Moscow in the region, its image too has taken beating. The Arab world is under the political transitions that have produced dramatic change in the regional political order. The Arab Spring and Syrian crisis has changed the course of regional dynamics and security environment. The traditional players Iraq and Egypt have been losing their influence while; Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar have emerged as the new regional players in the Middle East. The major powers of the world are trying to exploit the vulnerability and instability of the region to achieve their certain objectives in the Arab world
