Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join a U.S.-led initiative aimed at securing artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg told Reuters in an interview.
The move is notable given the Middle East’s long-standing political divisions and reflects Washington’s push to bring Israel and Gulf states into a shared, technology-focused economic framework. The initiative, known as Pax Silica, seeks to safeguard the full technology value chain, from critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to computing and data infrastructure.
Helberg said the effort is a central pillar of the Trump administration’s economic statecraft strategy, designed to reduce reliance on rival nations and deepen cooperation among allied and partner countries.
“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.”
Current participants in Pax Silica include Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom and Australia. Qatar is expected to sign the declaration on January 12, followed by the UAE on January 15.
Unlike traditional alliances, Pax Silica is structured as a “coalition of capabilities,” with participation driven by each country’s industrial strengths and leading companies rather than formal security commitments. Helberg said the initiative could help accelerate the Middle East’s shift away from energy dependence toward a more diversified, technology-driven economic model.
“For the UAE and Qatar, this marks a shift from a hydrocarbon-centric security architecture to one focused on silicon statecraft,” he said.
The expansion comes ahead of the Future Minerals Forum, a Saudi Arabia-hosted global gathering on minerals and supply chains taking place in Riyadh from January 13 to 15. Helberg said Pax Silica members will focus this year on widening participation, launching strategic supply-chain projects and coordinating policies to protect critical technology and infrastructure.
Discussions are also under way on projects to modernize trade and logistics routes, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, using advanced U.S. technology to enhance regional integration. U.S. and Israeli officials are additionally planning a Pax Silica-linked strategic framework, including the “Fort Foundry One” industrial park in Israel, while AI cooperation is expected to be discussed under a memorandum of understanding tentatively planned for January 16.
