Earlier this week, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates signed the Pax Silica Declaration, a non-binding U.S.-led initiative aimed at building secure and reliable supply chains for technologies that power artificial intelligence. These include critical minerals, energy, semiconductors, computing infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
The initiative was launched under the second Trump administration as a strategic effort to bring together trusted allies and partners in key technology areas. Its central purpose is to reduce over-reliance on US adversaries such as China, especially in sensitive areas such as AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing, and to help strategically important countries maintain collaboration within a US-led technology ecosystem.
So far, the declaration has been signed by Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the UK, as well as the UAE and Qatar. According to the US State Department, India plans to join the declaration next month.
The entry of the UAE and Qatar, and the possible participation of India, could significantly change the development of technological cooperation across Asia, the Middle East and the West.
Building stronger bridges between regions
Gulf countries offer significant advantages. They have ambitious plans to invest heavily in large sovereign wealth funds, abundant and reliable energy supplies needed to power energy-guzzling AI data centers, and AI infrastructure. Their participation adds geographic diversity to the Union and creates a natural bridge between the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.
For India, this opens the door to deeper cooperation with the US and Gulf states through trilateral or multilateral projects. These could include joint efforts in processing critical minerals, clean and reliable energy for computing, or AI research and development. India’s strengths in software, skilled talent and emerging manufacturing can play a central role in these areas.
Access to Gulf capitals and infrastructure
The UAE and Qatar are investing heavily in data centres, advanced chips and digital infrastructure, positioning themselves as global AI hubs. By joining Pax Silica, we align more closely with America’s trusted technology ecosystem. This could create new opportunities for Indian companies to partner on Gulf-based AI projects, supply chain initiatives, or co-investments.
Indian companies have the potential to contribute to and benefit from secure semiconductor logistics, critical mineral refining and energy-efficient AI infrastructure in the region, potentially strengthening India’s role in global technology value chains.
Improving supply chain resilience
With the Gulf energy producers joining the coalition, India will benefit from more diverse and reliable sources of critical inputs needed for AI and semiconductor manufacturing, such as processed minerals and a reliable power supply. This reduces the risk of supply disruptions and over-reliance on a single country. As India builds its own semiconductor ecosystem through government incentives and production-linked schemes, Pax Silica’s close collaboration with partners, including energy- and logistics-rich Gulf countries, is expected to help build a stronger end-to-end supply chain. This is expected to counter Chinese influence in Asia and other regions, including through initiatives like the Digital Silk Road.
Talent and work benefits
Gulf countries are expected to create millions of highly skilled jobs in AI and technology by 2030, many of which will rival the expertise of India’s IT and AI professionals. Pax Silica’s emphasis on trusted partnerships could facilitate the smoother movement of talent within this U.S.-aligned ecosystem.
This positions India as a major talent supplier, increasing remittances, improving skills, and even facilitating reverse brain drain as professionals gain experience in advanced AI environments.
Greater role for India
The sudden entry of the UAE and Qatar shows that Pax Silica is gaining momentum in the Middle East. With India’s expected entry, this effort will become truly cross-regional across Asia, the Middle East, and the West, creating a broader “Silicon Age” consensus. Pax Silica will enhance India’s strategic position in the cross-regional coalition by bridging the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.
For India, this could enhance India’s standing in US-led technology diplomacy and enable deeper cooperation on export controls, trustworthy AI standards, joint research, and more. At the same time, it also supports India’s own goals of technological leadership and strategic independence in the age of artificial intelligence.
