Qatar and UAE Join U.S. in Strengthening Tech Supply Chain

• Pax Silica membership includes Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, and Australia, with Qatar and UAE becoming the first Gulf states to join this 'coalition of capabilities' based on each country's industrial strengths.
• The U.S. and Israel plan to launch 'Fort Foundry One' industrial park in Israel on January 16, along with a tentative AI cooperation memorandum, as part of a Pax Silica-linked Strategic Framework.
• For the UAE and Qatar, this marks a strategic pivot from a 'hydrocarbon-centric security architecture to one focused on silicon statecraft,' aiming to accelerate the Middle East's economic diversification beyond energy.

Summary: Qatar and UAE Join U.S.-Led Tech Supply Chain Initiative

Key Development: Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join "Pax Silica," a U.S.-led initiative aimed at securing AI and semiconductor supply chains. Qatar will sign on January 12, followed by the UAE on January 15.

Program Details: Pax Silica focuses on safeguarding the entire technology supply chain, including critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing, and data infrastructure. The initiative is described as a "coalition of capabilities" rather than a traditional alliance, with membership based on each country's industrial strengths.

Current Members: The group includes Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, and Australia. U.S. Undersecretary of State Jacob Helberg emphasized this represents a significant diplomatic achievement in bringing Israel and Gulf states into a unified technology-focused economic framework.

Strategic Significance: For Qatar and the UAE, participation marks a strategic pivot from "hydrocarbon-centric security" toward "silicon statecraft," supporting Middle East economic diversification away from energy dependence toward technology-driven growth.

Upcoming Initiatives:

• January 16: U.S. and Israel plan to launch "Fort Foundry One," an industrial park in Israel, along with a tentative AI memorandum of understanding
• The group will focus on expanding membership, building strategic supply chain projects, and coordinating policies for critical infrastructure protection
• Discussions include modernizing trade routes like the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor using advanced U.S. technology

Context: The announcement coincides with Saudi Arabia's Future Minerals Forum (January 13-15), a global minerals and supply chain conference in Riyadh. The Trump administration views Pax Silica as central to its economic statecraft strategy, reducing dependence on rival nations while strengthening allied cooperation.