The U.S. is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must choose between Washington's Pax Silica AI coalition and Beijing's competing framework, warning that dual membership will not be permitted, according to a U.S. official and an internal draft reviewed by Reuters1,4.
The State Department has prepared a draft letter addressed to the 35 signatories of a U.S. "AI Opportunity Statement" signed in June. The letter targets countries that have joined the non-binding Pax Silica framework as well as others that have expressed interest in aligning AI cooperation with Washington.
Washington launched Pax Silica in 2025 to secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors, and critical minerals amid a technology rivalry with Beijing. About two dozen countries have joined, including Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is the only country so far known to have joined both Pax Silica and China's coalition. The U.S. touted Kazakhstan in June as the first country in Central Asia to join Pax Silica. Kazakhstan is a key potential source of critical minerals.
On the Chinese side, President Xi Jinping launched a rival World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in July. Beijing is also reportedly weighing restrictions on overseas access to some of China's leading AI models. Chinese open-weight AI models have made rapid gains against proprietary systems from U.S. companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
China has used its current near-monopolies over critical minerals as a retaliatory weapon in a tariff war launched last year by President Donald Trump.
The Pax Silica framework aims to push U.S. allies and partners toward joint projects and export controls, while reducing reliance on adversaries for critical minerals, AI models, and semiconductor chips. Members of Pax Silica have access to shared investment opportunities in AI-related projects. Countries that sign the AI Opportunity Statement have symbolically agreed on a "common purpose" and "shared vision" with the U.S..
Separately, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. has launched an effort to speed trade in AI goods between allies6.
Vector Wire covered the initial Reuters report on August 17, noting the ultimatum centered on Pax Silica exclusivity ctx.
ANALYSIS The exclusivity demand transforms Pax Silica from a non-binding coordination framework into a mechanism that carries a concrete cost for hedging — countries that maintain ties to Beijing's AI organization risk losing access to U.S.-led supply chain arrangements and joint investment opportunities. Kazakhstan's position as the only known dual member makes it the immediate test case for enforcement of the new policy.