concept

Belt and Road Initiative

Also known as: BRI, Belt and Road, New Silk Road, new silk road

Entities (5)

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the leader who initiated the Belt and Road Initiative as a core component of his grand strategy and transformational leadership style, as evidenced by [1], [2], and [3]. Furthermore, academic analysis by Kishan S. Rana and Theresa Fallon explicitly links his leadership era to the implementation and strategic goals of the initiative in [4], [5], and [6]. — 9 supporting facts

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China

China

China is the primary architect and promoter of the Belt and Road Initiative, utilizing it to expand its geopolitical and economic influence globally as described in [1], [2], and [3]. The initiative is widely recognized as a Chinese-led project, with international reactions ranging from strategic participation to skepticism and efforts to counter its expansion, as noted in [4], [5], [6], and [7]. — 8 supporting facts

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European Union

European Union

The European Union and the Belt and Road Initiative are related because Italy's independent participation in the initiative challenged the European Union's goal of a unified negotiation strategy [1], [2], and the European Union has developed a connectivity strategy specifically to counter the dependencies created by the Belt and Road Initiative [3]. — 3 supporting facts

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Iran

Iran

Iran is identified as a central and potentially valuable participant in China's Belt and Road Initiative due to its strategic geographic location [1], [2], though its actual integration has been hindered by the impact of Western sanctions on Chinese investment [3]. — 3 supporting facts

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DoD

DoD

The DoD is related to the Belt and Road Initiative because the department monitors and expresses strategic concerns regarding Chinese investments in foreign infrastructure projects associated with the initiative, as detailed in [1], [2], and [3]. — 3 supporting facts

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Facts (67)

Sources

Strategic Rivalry between United States and China swp-berlin.org SWP 40 facts

claimKishan S. Rana analyzed whether China's Foreign Ministry is fit for purpose in the era of Xi Jinping, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and 'Major Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics' in a 2019 report.

referenceKishan S. Rana examined the effectiveness of China's Foreign Ministry in the era of Xi Jinping, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and 'Major Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics' in a 2019 article.

claimChina established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank (formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank), and the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimChina has established or promoted several international economic initiatives, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank (formerly the BRICS Development Bank), and the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimPresident Xi Jinping initiated the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to secure and guarantee markets and resources in a politically stable and China-friendly international environment.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) established a global narrative supporting China's claim to an outstanding international role, encouraging actors that previously operated only nationally to operate internationally.

claimThe digital component of the Belt and Road Initiative serves as a decisive instrument for China to establish a technopolitical sphere of influence as a counterweight to the United States.

claimMany states and societies in Asia and Africa value China's economic engagement and its Belt and Road Initiative, but fear one-sided dependencies.

claimInternational observers perceive the Belt and Road Initiative as a 'grand strategy' that causes numerous actors to orientate their policies toward China.

claimIn March 2019, Italy became the first G7 state to sign on to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road.

claimChina uses the digital component of the Belt and Road Initiative to create a technopolitical sphere of influence as a counterweight to the United States.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) established a global narrative supporting China's claim to an outstanding international role.

claimThe United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) expresses concern regarding the strategic benefits of Chinese investments in foreign infrastructure, specifically port facilities associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative, initiated by President Xi Jinping, is intended to secure and guarantee markets and resources in a politically stable and China-friendly international environment, while enabling economic, political, and cultural networks.

referenceNadine Godehardt authored the SWP Research Paper "No End of History: A Chinese Alternative Concept of International Order?" in January 2016, which provides a comprehensive survey of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

claimThe long-term objective of the Belt and Road Initiative may be to establish a new world order inspired by Chinese civilization, into which existing multilateral institutions would be incorporated.

claimThe acronym BRI stands for the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimBy signing the Belt and Road Initiative independently, Italy subverted the desire of other European Union member states to negotiate participation in the initiative as a unified European bloc.

claimXi Jinping's 'transformational leadership' style utilizes strategic narratives, such as the 'Belt and Road' initiative, to foster long-term engagement and permanent relationships between China and other states.

claimIn March 2019, Italy became the first G7 state to sign onto China's Belt and Road Initiative, subverting the desire of other European Union member states to negotiate participation in the initiative as a unified European bloc.

perspectiveThe European Union's connectivity strategy serves as a counter-approach to the one-sided dependencies that many Asian and African nations fear from China's Belt and Road Initiative.

claimThe strategic narrative of China's 'Belt and Road' initiative applies to third states, subjecting them to the logic and imperatives of that narrative.

claimChina has established and promoted institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank (formerly the BRICS Development Bank), and the Belt and Road Initiative.

perspectiveChina views the Belt and Road Initiative not as a counter-model to the Western global order, but as a necessary complement to it.

claimInternational politics perceives the Belt and Road Initiative as a 'grand strategy' that causes numerous actors to orient themselves toward China.

claimThe United States Department of Defense is concerned about the strategic benefits China gains from investing in foreign infrastructure projects, such as port facilities, which are part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimThe United States Department of Defense is concerned about the strategic benefits of Chinese investments in foreign infrastructure, specifically port facilities associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimXi Jinping's 'transformational leadership' style utilizes strategic narratives like the 'Belt and Road' initiative to generate long-term engagement and foster permanent relationships between China and other states.

claimItaly's decision to sign on to the Belt and Road Initiative subverted the desire of other European Union member states to conduct talks about participating in the initiative only as a unified European bloc.

claimStrategic interdependency with China involves standing up to Beijing over World Trade Organization (WTO) rules while simultaneously engaging in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative, initiated by President Xi Jinping, is intended to secure and guarantee markets and resources for China in a politically stable and China-friendly international environment.

claimMany states and societies in Asia and Africa value China's economic engagement and the Belt and Road Initiative, but they also fear the development of one-sided dependencies.

claimInternational observers perceive the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a 'grand strategy' that causes numerous actors to orientate toward China.

perspectiveChina views the Belt and Road Initiative not as a counter-model to the Western global order, but as a complement that could eventually lead to a new world order inspired by Chinese civilization, into which existing multilateral institutions would be incorporated.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative is abbreviated as BRI.

claimChina utilizes the digital component of the Belt and Road Initiative as a primary instrument to create a technopolitical sphere of influence that serves as a counterweight to the United States.

claimStrategic interdependency with China involves standing up to Beijing over WTO rules while simultaneously engaging in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Belt and Road Initiative projects.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative aims to enable open, flexible, and inclusive cooperation with foreign countries through economic, political, and cultural networks.

Quest for Strategic Autonomy? Europe Grapples with the US - China ... realinstitutoelcano.org Real Instituto Elcano Jun 26, 2025 14 facts

claimEconomic security concerns are shaping policy debates in Europe regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, 5G regulation, infrastructure, dual-use export controls, and outbound foreign direct investment.

accountItaly formally disengaged from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) after its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expired in December 2023.

accountEstonia and Lithuania chose not to renew their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) after they expired in 2022.

claimThe 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between Poland and China regarding the Belt and Road Initiative remains formally in force due to automatic renewal, but it is effectively inactive with no substantive activity or dialogue underway.

claimThe status of Greece's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belt and Road Initiative is unclear, though if it follows the five-year duration model used by Italy, it may have expired in 2023.

claimEuropean governments increasingly view the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through a security lens, perceiving it as a vehicle for expanding Chinese geopolitical influence via strategic infrastructure.

claimLatvia and Romania have allowed their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to become inactive.

claimThe Chinese embassy in Slovenia stated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belt and Road Initiative remains valid as of spring 2025.

measurementThe trade imbalance between Europe and China has widened over the five years preceding the 10th annual report by the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC), alongside increasing European skepticism toward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

claimEuropean countries are experiencing growing disillusionment with initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and are reconsidering economic ties with China.

claimSlovakia and Portugal maintain active Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed in 2015 and 2018 respectively, because the agreements did not include expiration or renewal timetables.

claimEuropean engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has declined significantly since the publication of the 2020 ETNC report due to disillusionment and the perception that the initiative failed to meet expectations.

claimSlovenia and Greece signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and these agreements were never made public.

claimEuropean economic security policy debates are increasingly focused on engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), 5G regulation, infrastructure, dual-use export controls, and outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI).

From Economic Cooperation to Strategic Competition - Academia.edu academia.edu Journal of Chinese Political Science 4 facts

referenceTheresa Fallon published 'The new silk road: Xi Jinping's grand strategy for Eurasia' in American Foreign Policy Interests, volume 37, issue 3, pages 140-147, in 2015.

referenceYong Wang authored 'Offensive for defensive: The belt and road initiative and China's new grand strategy', published in The Pacific Review in 2016.

referenceIn the 2016 article 'Inclusive globalization: Unpacking China's belt and road initiative', Weidong Liu and Michael Dunford analyze China's Belt and Road Initiative.

claimChina's ambition for global leadership, pursued through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, has intensified economic competition with the United States.

The International Implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War link.springer.com Springer 3 facts

claimChina has positioned itself as a critical player in reshaping the economic and political landscape of regions affected by the Russo-Ukrainian War, primarily through the Belt and Road Initiative.

claimTanzania has opted to scale back on specific Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects to avoid falling into a debt trap.

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as the central framework for China's engagement with Africa, facilitating infrastructure development that connects African countries to global trade networks.

Free Trade Protectionism: U.S. Tariffs Are Creating a New Trade ... itif.org ITIF Jul 7, 2025 1 fact

claimCountries in the Global South, particularly members of the Belt and Road Initiative such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Pakistan, and South Africa, are increasingly aligning with China, facilitated by Chinese investments.

New Research Introduces “Competitive Interdependence ... - LinkedIn linkedin.com Habib Al-Badawi, A. Darbaj · LinkedIn Sep 28, 2025 1 fact

claimChina's approach to the liberal international order is characterized by selective engagement and the building of alternative institutions, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

China-U.S. Relations in 2024 chinausfocus.com China-US Focus Feb 29, 2024 1 fact

claimWestern politicians and media, particularly those in the United States, have sought to smear and disrupt key projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative and certain resource projects.

U.S.-China Relations in 2024: Managing Competition without Conflict csis.org CSIS Jan 3, 2024 1 fact

claimThe Belt and Road Initiative has faced criticism for failed projects that increased the debt burden of developing nations.

The United States and China's complex cooperation and rivalry ... eastasiaforum.org East Asia Forum Feb 1, 2024 1 fact

claimTo mitigate economic friction with the United States and support exports, Chinese policymakers are strategizing to strengthen commercial ties in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, including countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

How China is responding to escalating strategic competition with the ... brookings.edu Ryan Hass · Brookings Mar 1, 2021 1 fact

claimChina utilizes its expertise in infrastructure construction to advance the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to increase Chinese influence globally.