Meeting the World’s Infrastructure Gaps amid Geopolitical Competition

The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Meeting the World’s Infrastructure Gaps amid Geopolitical Competition

Author: Bernardo Mariani

In 2022, the U.S. and the other members of the G7 launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), a collaborative initiative that aims to raise $600 billion for global infrastructure projects in emergent nations. While the PGII has potential to support global growth trajectories and development plans for low and medium-income countries, it is also intended to counter China’s growing influence, resultant of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China and the G7 nations share common interests in meeting global infrastructure development needs, but these run parallel to both actors’ concerns in advancing their own geopolitical goals.

This brief outlines how recipient countries can engage with and benefit from the BRI and/or the PGII, and highlights scope for collaboration between the implementing organisations for both initiatives.

The Global Transitions Series looks at fragmentations in the global order and how these impact peace and transition settlements. It explores why and how different third-party actors – state, intergovernmental, and non-governmental – intervene in conflicts, and how they see themselves contributing to reduction of conflict and risks of conflict relapse. The series critically assesses the growth and diversification of global and regional responses to contemporary conflicts. It also asks how local actors are navigating this multiplicity of mediators and peacebuilders and how this is shaping conflict outcomes and post-conflict governance.