military bases to protect its economic and investment interests in the ports of the Arabian Gulf region. This leads to the research question of the study: How does the increasing presence of China in Gulf ports affect the escalation of threats and security challenges to Arab Gulf countries? This question arises from changes in the security environment imposed by the rising Chinese presence, and therefore seeks to analyse the manifestations of security threats and challenges and interpret the resulting effects of Chinese presence in the ports of Arab Gulf countries. Using the historical and descriptive methodologies in tracing the history of the power struggle between major powers to control the Gulf region, the study reaches a number of findings, including China's pursuit of competition with the United States in international trade, especially in the Gulf region. This constitutes a source of profound transformations in the regional security system of Arab Gulf countries. Keywords: port competition, Chinese rise, United States, China, Arab Gulf countries, New Silk Road, Chinese military penetration.
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