China's New Silk Road Initiative: Opportunities and Threats for Iran, Pakistan and Kazakhstan

One Belt One Road initiative of China is the most important megaproject of international political economy in the current situation. With this plan, China pursues major goals in terms of economic growth, especially energy security, expanding its influence in various regions, access to global markets, as well as creating more cost-effective communication and transportation. The idea is to facilitate the supply of energy, goods, and bring the various parts of the globe closer to China. The present paper focuses on explaining the opportunities and challenges of cooperation between Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and China by relying on qualitative research methods such as document observation and analysis. In this regard, the main research question is what opportunities and challenges do the New Silk Road initiative have for Iran, Pakistan and Kazakhstan as a foreign policy strategy of China? In response, the hypothesis raised to this question is that this initiative, in addition to playing an influential role for the future of these three countries, could have consequences for these countries: In terms of opportunities for developing and deepening these countries' relations with China: capacity building for regional dominance, simultaneous interaction with East and West, diversification of onshore and offshore routes, diversification of energy import bases, provision, facilitation and enhancement of energy transmission security for suppliers and consumers and in terms of consequences: China's dominance over the geoeconomic structure of the countries of Iran, Pakistan and Kazakhstan and intensification of competition between Russia, India and the US in the region.