Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon join a U.S.-led initiative to secure AI and semiconductor supply chains, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said, according to Reuters.
The addition of those two countries is notable given the Middle East’s history of political divisions and reflects a U.S.-led effort to bring Israel and Gulf states into the same technology-focused economic framework.
The program, dubbed Pax Silica, seeks to safeguard the full technology supply chain, including critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing and data infrastructure.
It is a key pillar of the Trump administration’s economic statecraft strategy to reduce dependence on rival nations and strengthen cooperation among allied partners.
“The Silicon Declaration isn’t just a diplomatic communiqué,” Helberg said. “It’s meant to be an operational document for a new economic security consensus.”
The group including Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain and Australia. Qatar is expected to sign the Pax Silica declaration on Jan. 12, followed by the UAE on Jan. 15.
Unlike traditional alliances, Helberg said, Pax Silica is a “coalition of capabilities,” with membership driven by the industrial strengths and companies of each country.
Helberg said he hopes the initiative can help accelerate the Middle East’s economic transition away from energy dependence, toward a more diversified, technology-driven economy.
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