WASHINGTON, Aug 14 — The U.S. is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the AI race with China, warning exclusion from the U.S.-led Pax Silica coalition if they also join Beijing’s competing framework, per a U.S. official and State Department draft reviewed by Reuters.
Washington launched Pax Silica last year to secure AI, semiconductor, and critical mineral supply chains. ~24 countries joined including Kazakhstan (also in China’s coalition), Japan, Australia, South Korea.
Draft letter to 35 signatories of June “AI Opportunity Statement”: “To be part of everything is to be part of nothing. Signature of the Pax Silica Declaration is not merely a membership subscription, but a commitment.” Urges countries to “choose deliberately.” Cannot be held alongside “duplicative initiatives whose expectations conflict with our own.”
Reuters could not determine when the letter will be sent or if wording will change.