WASHINGTON: Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to join a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, marking a significant step toward deeper international cooperation in advanced technologies.
The announcement was made by Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg in an interview with Reuters.
The inclusion of Qatar and the UAE highlights growing momentum behind a US-driven effort to bring Israel and Gulf nations into a shared, technology-focused economic framework.
Given the Middle East’s historically fragmented political landscape, the move represents a notable convergence around economic security and innovation.
The initiative, known as Pax Silica, is designed to safeguard the entire technology supply chain — spanning critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing capacity, and data infrastructure.
It serves as a central pillar of the Trump administration’s economic statecraft agenda, which seeks to reduce reliance on rival nations while reinforcing collaboration among trusted 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 Pax Silica group already includes Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, and Australia. Qatar is expected to formally sign the Pax Silica declaration on January 12, with the UAE scheduled to follow on January 15.
Unlike traditional geopolitical alliances, Pax Silica is structured as what Helberg described as a “coalition of capabilities,” where participation is based on each country’s industrial strengths, technological expertise, and corporate ecosystems rather than formal defense commitments.
Helberg expressed optimism that the initiative could help accelerate economic transformation across the Middle East, supporting a transition away from energy-dependent growth models toward diversified, technology-driven economies.
“For the UAE and Qatar, this marks a shift from a hydrocarbon-centric security architecture to one focused on silicon statecraft,” he said.
The developments come as regional and global leaders prepare to convene at the Future Minerals Forum, a government-led international conference hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from January 13 to 15.
The forum will bring together senior policymakers, industry executives, and investors to discuss minerals, supply chains, and industrial resilience.
Looking ahead, Helberg said Pax Silica will prioritize expanding its membership base, launching strategic projects to secure critical supply chains, and coordinating policies to protect essential infrastructure and emerging technologies throughout the year.
