Qatar Joins US-Led Pax Silica Alliance to Secure AI and Energy Supply Chains

Qatar officially became the eighth signatory of the Pax Silica Declaration on January 12, 2026, during a ceremony in Doha. U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg and Qatari Minister Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed finalized the agreement, marking a significant expansion of the technological alliance. This move integrates Qatar into a coalition focused on securing the essential components of the 21st century economy. Official Release

The agreement establishes a new geopolitical consensus where economic security and national security are treated as the same priority. Both nations committed to building resilient supply chains that reduce reliance on single points of failure in the global market. The coalition seeks to ensure that the free world maintains leadership in advanced computing and digital infrastructure.

A central pillar of this partnership is the concept of energy for compute. As artificial intelligence models require massive amounts of electricity, Qatar’s role as a top LNG exporter makes it a vital partner for powering future data centers. This ensures that the physical infrastructure behind the AI revolution has a stable and secure energy source. Pax Silica Details

Pax Silica focuses on four strategic assets: compute, silicon, minerals, and energy. By joining, Qatar aligns its National Vision 2030 with a group of nations that includes Australia, Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This diversity allows the coalition to cover every layer of the technology stack, from mineral extraction to chip design.

The two countries plan to collaborate on flagship projects ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to advanced logistics. These initiatives are designed to foster trusted technology ecosystems that are safe from coercive economic practices. Under Secretary Helberg noted that this is the first time countries have organized specifically around the resources required for the AI age.

This signing transforms the Middle East’s role from a traditional energy hub to a critical technology enabler. The inclusion of Qatar alongside Israel and other Asian allies creates a powerful technological center in the region. Additional countries are expected to join the declaration as the coalition continues to grow.