Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join a US-led initiative aimed at securing artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, according to Jacob Helberg, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs, speaking to Reuters in an interview.
The inclusion of the two Gulf states is significant given the Middle East’s long-standing political divides and underscores a US-driven push to integrate Israel and Gulf nations within a shared, technology-focused economic framework.
Known as Pax Silica, the initiative is designed to protect the entire technology supply chain, spanning critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing capabilities and data infrastructure. It forms a central part of the Trump administration’s economic statecraft agenda, which seeks to curb reliance on rival countries while deepening collaboration among allied partners.
Helberg said the Silicon Declaration goes beyond symbolic diplomacy, describing it as an operational blueprint intended to establish a new consensus on economic security.
The group already includes Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UK and Australia. Qatar is expected to sign the Pax Silica declaration on January 12, with the UAE following on January 15.
Unlike conventional alliances, Pax Silica is structured as a “coalition of capabilities,” Helberg said, with participation determined by each country’s industrial strengths and leading companies.
He added that the initiative could play a role in speeding up the Middle East’s shift away from energy dependence towards a more diversified, technology-led economic model.
For the UAE and Qatar, Helberg said the move signals a transition from a hydrocarbon-focused security framework to one centred on what he described as silicon statecraft.
The developments coincide with the Future Minerals Forum, a government-backed global conference on minerals and supply chains hosted by Saudi Arabia, set to take place in Riyadh from January 13 to 15, bringing together senior officials, business leaders and investors.
Helberg said the Pax Silica group will prioritise expanding its membership this year, advancing strategic projects to secure supply chains and aligning policies to safeguard critical infrastructure and technology.
The group convened in Washington last month and is expected to meet several times over the course of the year.
Discussions are also ongoing around projects that could modernise trade and logistics corridors, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, leveraging advanced US technology to strengthen regional integration and broaden America’s economic presence.
US and Israeli officials are planning to introduce a Pax Silica-linked strategic framework, which will include the Fort Foundry One industrial park in Israel to fast-track projects. Talks on AI cooperation are also planned, with a memorandum of understanding tentatively scheduled for January 16.
