Washington: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially signed on to a U.S.-led coalition focused on supply chain cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and other strategic areas. This coalition, which already includes South Korea and seven other nations, aims to enhance economic security and counter China's influence in advanced technologies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the signing took place between Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and UAE Minister of State Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri. The UAE's participation in Pax Silica, an initiative launched last month, reflects Washington's strategy to mitigate China's growing power in the tech sector. The State Department also announced that India is set to join the coalition next month.
The coalition now comprises nine members: South Korea, the United States, Australia, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, Britain, and the UAE. The group seeks to strengthen supply chain security, reduce dependencies, and promote trusted technology ecosystems. It plans to explore partnerships in areas such as 6G connectivity, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and energy.
The formation of this group aligns with efforts by the U.S. administration to bolster America's global position in AI and ensure stable supply chains for critical minerals. This move comes amid an ongoing rivalry with China over control of resources crucial to technology development.
Pax Silica, named to signify peace and prosperity, highlights the importance of silicon, essential for computer chips that drive AI technologies.