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State of Play

State of Play

Are Russia and China Benefitting from the War with Iran?

Mar 17, 2026 · 35m

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As the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran enters its third week, U.S. attention is focused on the Middle East once again. Both China and Russia may find strategic openings, from higher global energy prices that bolster Moscow’s war economy to new opportunities for Beijing to expand its influence elsewhere. But the conflict also carries costs for both. Instability threatens critical energy supplies to China, while the conflict is prompting the further degradation of a key Russian partner in the Middle East. On balance, are Russia and China gaining or losing more from the war with Iran? The CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department invites you to a live episode of State of Play to explore the…