Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will soon join a US-led initiative aimed at securing global technology and semiconductor supply chains, according to Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.
Speaking to Reuters, Helberg said both countries will become part of a new framework known as Pax Silica, designed to protect the full technology supply chain, from critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to computing and data infrastructure. Qatar is expected to sign the declaration on January 12, followed by the UAE on January 15.
The inclusion of Qatar and the UAE is significant, given the Middle East’s history of political divisions. It reflects a broader US strategy to bring Israel and Gulf states into a shared, technology-focused economic framework.
“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.”
The Pax Silica group already includes Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, and Australia. Unlike traditional alliances, Helberg described the initiative as a “coalition of capabilities,” where membership is shaped by each country’s industrial strengths and companies.
The program is a key pillar of the Trump administration’s economic statecraft strategy, aimed at reducing dependence on rival nations and strengthening cooperation among allied partners in areas such as semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and critical minerals.
Helberg said the initiative could help accelerate the Middle East’s transition away from energy dependence and toward more diversified, technology-driven economies.
“For the UAE and Qatar, this marks a shift from a hydrocarbon-centric security architecture to one focused on silicon statecraft,” he said.
The move comes ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Future Minerals Forum, a global conference on minerals and supply chains taking place in Riyadh from January 13–15, bringing together governments, industry leaders, and investors.
According to Helberg, Pax Silica will focus this year on expanding membership, launching strategic projects to secure supply chains, and coordinating policies to protect critical infrastructure and advanced technologies.
