The article describes how major powers — particularly the United States and Japan — are intensifying efforts to strengthen their AI supply chains by partnering with Gulf countries. The Gulf region, including nations like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others, is being courted through diplomatic and economic outreach as AI becomes a critical element of global tech competition. The upcoming “Pax Silica” summit at the White House, for instance, will bring together Gulf states and allied countries to coordinate on AI‑relevant infrastructure, chips, and supply‑chain resilience.
For the Gulf nations, this outreach aligns with a broader push to diversify beyond oil and invest heavily in AI infrastructure. Many Gulf states are positioning themselves as future hubs of AI research, data centers, and tech services — using their resources, strategic location, and capital to attract global tech investment.
From the perspective of the U.S. and other powers, partnering with the Gulf provides access to critical minerals, energy, and alternative supply‑chain routes — reducing reliance on more contested markets. Given recent global tensions around chip production and mineral sourcing, the Gulf offers a geopolitically strategic partner whose cooperation could help stabilize and diversify AI hardware ecosystems.
At the same time, the article suggests this trend underscores how AI is no longer only a technological competition — it’s a geopolitical one. Access to chips, energy, data, and regulatory environments is becoming as important as software and models. The Gulf’s rise as a target for AI collaborations reflects how global power dynamics are reshaping around control of AI infrastructure, resources, and strategic alliances.
