Editor’s Note: Dr. Chuchu Zhang is an Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, China. As an expert in international political economy, Dr. Zhang’s research primarily focuses on China-Middle Eastern relations, international development, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). She earned her Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge in 2019. She is author of “Filling a Power Vacuum? China’s Changing Role in the Middle East” (Routledge, 2025) and “Islamist Party Mobilization: Tunisia’s Ennahda and Algeria’s HMS Compared, 1989-2014” (Palgrave, 2020), and her research has been featured in top peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Zhang is deeply engaged in facilitating cooperation and exchanges between China and the Middle East, working with CEOs, government officials, and researchers. She is the Deputy Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University and received the Shanghai Oriental Elite Talent Award in 2025. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Zhang serves as the Deputy Director of the Dr. Seaker Chan Center for Comparative Political Development Studies at Fudan University. The Center was established through a generous donation by Mr. Anson Chan, Chairman of Bonds Group of Companies, in memory of his father, the late Dr. Seaker Chan.

By Hafed Al-Ghwell, Senior Fellow and Director, North Africa Program

While global attention during the US-Israeli war with Iran has centered on its direct effects on US-China tensions or Beijing’s ties with Gulf capitals, a quieter yet strategically significant realignment has been unfolding across North Africa.

As the world’s largest crude-oil importer, China has confronted the challenges of its partial energy dependence on the Gulf region, where roughly 40–50% of its seaborne imports traditionally transit the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure of this chokepoint since late February 2026 has not only triggered sharp price spikes but also exposed the risks posed by concentrated supply chains amid heightened geopolitical volatility. In response, Beijing has accelerated a dual-track strategy of multi-source procurement and accelerated green transformation, deliberately broadening its oil and gas import footprint while fast-tracking the development of new-energy technologies. Within this recalibration, North Africa — geographically proximate, politically stable in key partners, and richly endowed with both hydrocarbons and renewable potential — has emerged as a pivotal arena for deepened geo-economic cooperation.

This shift is not a sudden pivot but a pragmatic intensification of existing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) linkages. North African nations offer China a compelling combination of reliable access routes that largely bypass Hormuz risks and opportunities to co-develop low-carbon supply chains that serve both immediate energy security needs and longer-term decarbonization goals. The result is a subtle but measurable strengthening of geo-economic ties that appears to position the Maghreb and Egypt as a strategic “second-tier” buffer. Far from being a peripheral theater, North Africa is becoming a new fulcrum for China’s energy resilience.

Algeria: A Modest but Timely Channel for China’s Energy Import Diversification Amid Geopolitical Pressures

Algeria is likely to stand out as an immediate beneficiary of China’s quest for diversified crude supplies amid the Hormuz crisis. The country’s political stability, long-standing diplomatic warmth with Beijing, and status as an OPEC member with expansion capacity make it a natural partner.

This escalating geopolitical pressure has created an opportunity to deepen Sino-Algerian energy relations, transforming the agreements reached in 2025 into a more substantial partnership. The framework agreement for oil and gas exploration and development, signed in July 2025 between Sonatrach, the Algerian national oil company, and Sinopec, aims to secure alternative supplies, and its momentum is further strengthened as the project progresses and investment commitments increase. Recent developments indicate that SINOPEC Engineering (Group) Co., Ltd. secured new contracts worth RMB 101.248 billion in 2025 — a modest year-on-year increase of 0.6% — while its order backlog surged 18.1% to RMB 203.850 billion.

Against the backdrop of tight global oil and gas supplies, Algeria intends to increase its oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports while supporting the expansion of its upstream operations. Deepening energy cooperation between China and Algeria would not only help mitigate the direct risks posed by a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz but also align with China’s long-term strategy to build a resilient, diversified energy network within the Belt and Road Initiative framework through technology transfer and joint ventures.

Morocco: Emerging as China’s Key Green Hydrogen Hub

While Algeria could offer a modest supplementary option for addressing some of China’s short-term hydrocarbon requirements, Morocco exemplifies the longer-term green transformation dimension of Beijing’s strategy. The impact of the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that China’s priority in developing green hydrogen energy, long-term energy storage, and smart grids in its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) is even more important. Morocco’s world-leading solar resources, ambitious renewable targets, and supportive policy framework make it an ideal partner for scaling these technologies.

Morocco has served as China’s green-energy bridgehead in Africa since at least 2025 when billions of dollars in projects covering green aluminum, green hydrogen, solar power, and wind were signed. Chinese firms — State Grid, SPIC, Shanghai Electric, and others — have taken leading roles. The conflict is likely to accelerate implementation. Green-hydrogen and electric-vehicle battery initiatives in Morocco have attracted enormous Chinese financing and technical support, moving beyond equipment exports toward full value-chain integration.

Egypt: Building a Safe Alternative Route and Full-Chain Integration

Egypt completes the triangle of China’s North African engagement, offering a balanced blend of logistical security and industrial scale. Viewed by Beijing as a “safe alternative route” that largely sidesteps Hormuz vulnerabilities, Egypt has seen accelerated cooperation in grid interconnection and green-hydrogen pilot projects. The relationship is evolving from simple equipment exports toward comprehensive industry-chain development.

A landmark early-2026 agreement — valued at $18 billion and involving Norwegian partners alongside Chinese firms — underscores the potential for such partnerships. The deal encompasses Sungrow’s photovoltaic expansion, multiple wind farm projects, and local manufacturing bases. Chinese enterprises are leading the upgrade of the iconic Benban solar park while advancing a number of wind initiatives. This full-chain approach not only mitigates immediate energy-security risks for China but also positions Egypt as a manufacturing and logistics node within Beijing’s broader African strategy.

Conclusion: North Africa as China’s New Energy Fulcrum

The US-Israeli war with Iran has not merely disrupted global oil flows; it has prompted a quiet but profound geo-economic reorientation in China’s relations with North Africa. By exposing the fragility of Gulf dependence, the conflict has propelled Beijing toward a more resilient, diversified, and greener energy posture. Algeria has the potential to provide more near-term hydrocarbon buffering, Morocco anchors the green-hydrogen frontier, and Egypt supplies scalable renewable infrastructure and logistical depth. Together, these partnerships are transforming North Africa into a new fulcrum for China’s energy security — one that blends traditional oil diplomacy with forward-looking clean-technology collaboration.

In an era of persistent geopolitical uncertainty, this subtle shift may prove one of the conflict’s enduring implications. For China, it represents a pragmatic hedge that safeguards growth while advancing decarbonization. For North African states, this brings valuable investment and advanced technology at a time when they are actively seeking to diversify their economic partnerships and accelerate broader economic development.