Analysts at the Middle East Institute’s annual conference suggest China and India are unlikely to fully replace the United States’ role in the Middle East, even with ongoing regional shifts and potential conflicts like a war with Iran. Unlike the US, these rising powers are not expected to establish a comparable military presence in the region. The discussion centered on how evolving dynamics are reshaping the Middle East, but not necessarily leading to a direct substitution of US influence. Experts believe China and India will likely exert influence through economic and diplomatic means rather than military intervention. This assessment challenges expectations of a simple power transfer as the US potentially recalibrates its commitments. The conference highlighted a complex future for the region, with multiple actors and evolving strategies.