The UAE is set to sign the US-led Pax Silica declaration on January 15, three days after Qatar joined the initiative. The program seeks to secure the AI and semiconductor supply chain, including critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing and data infrastructure, according to a report.
What makes Pax Silica interesting is that the initiative includes Israel, bringing the country and the GCC signatories together under a single tech-based economic deal.
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"The Silicon Declaration isn’t just a diplomatic communiqué. It’s meant to be an operational document for a new economic security consensus," said Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.
Other countries in the grouping includes the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
Interestingly, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said New Delhi is invited to join Pax Silica. "As the world adopts new technology, it is essential that India and the United States work hand-in-hand together," he posted on X on January 12.
Highlighting the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor that connects the India and Europe via GCC countries and Israel, Helberg said projects that could modernise trade and logistics routes using advanced US technology are also being discussed.
According to Reuters, American and Israeli officials are working on a strategic framework linked to the Pax Silica to accelerate projects. The “Fort Foundry One” industrial park in Israel is also part of this.