Qatar and UAE to Join US-Led Initiative on AI and Semiconductor Supply Chains

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join a US-led program aimed at securing artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, the Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg, told Reuters. The move highlights Washington’s efforts to align Israel and Gulf states under a common technology-focused economic framework despite the region’s history of political divisions.

The initiative, known as Pax Silica, is designed to protect the full technology supply chain, covering critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing, and data infrastructure. The program forms part of a broader US strategy to reduce reliance on rival nations while promoting 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.”

Existing members of the group include Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, and Australia. Qatar is expected to sign the Pax Silica declaration on January 12, followed by the UAE on January 15. Membership is based on each country’s industrial capabilities and corporate strengths, rather than traditional alliance criteria, according to Helberg.

Officials hope the initiative will support the Middle East’s economic transition from energy dependence toward a more diversified, technology-driven economy. “For the UAE and Qatar, this marks a shift from a hydrocarbon-centric security architecture to one focused on silicon statecraft,” Helberg said.

The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia hosts the Future Minerals Forum, a global conference on minerals and supply chains, bringing together senior officials, investors, and industry leaders in Riyadh from January 13 to 15.

Helberg said Pax Silica will focus this year on expanding its membership, developing strategic projects to secure supply chains, and coordinating policies to protect critical infrastructure and technology. The group held a meeting in Washington last month and is expected to convene several more times throughout the year.

Discussions are already underway on projects that could modernize trade and logistics routes, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, using advanced US technology to enhance regional integration and expand America’s economic footprint.

US and Israeli officials are also planning to launch a Pax Silica-linked Strategic Framework, which will include the “Fort Foundry One” industrial park in Israel to accelerate related projects. Cooperation on artificial intelligence is part of the agenda, with a memorandum of understanding tentatively scheduled for January 16.

The addition of Qatar and the UAE to the initiative underscores a growing focus on technology, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing in the Middle East, signaling a shift in the region’s economic and strategic priorities.