--- title: "The Pax Silica Dilemma: US Demands 35 Countries Choose Sides in the AI Race" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ The US demands 35 countries choose sides in the AI race. Washington warned participants of the \"AI Capabilities Declaration\" that one cannot simultaneously be part of the Pax Silica initiative and competing projects (implying the Chinese WAICO). Kazakhstan is in the spotlight for participating in both organizations. πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ Beijing is strengthening influence through its models, narrowing the gap with OpenAI. The world stands at a crossroads of technological ecosystems." date: 2026-08-15T20:11:42.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/usa-demands-35-countries-choose-sides-ai-race-pax-silica-vs-waico tags: [artificial-intelligence, usa-china-rivalry, pax-silica, waico, geopolitics, semiconductors, kazakhstan] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The Pax Silica Dilemma: US Demands 35 Countries Choose Sides in the AI Race ![A person stands at a crossroads choosing between the US and China in the AI race, symbolizing the Pax Silica dilemma](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/15/usa-demand-35-countries-choose-side-ai-race-pax-silica-vs-waico/usa-demand-35-countries-choose-side-ai-race-pax-silica-vs-waico-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The US sent letters to 35 countries demanding a choice between Pax Silica and Chinese initiatives. - Washington considers simultaneous participation in competing technological ecosystems impossible. - Kazakhstan became the only country participating in both Pax Silica and the Chinese WAICO. - Chinese AI models are actively narrowing the gap with American developments. On August 15, 2026, the world witnessed a new escalation in the technological rivalry between superpowers. According to Reuters, Washington has prepared official letters for 35 countries that signed the "Declaration on Artificial Intelligence Capabilities" in June. The documents, obtained by journalists, contain an ultimatum: states must make a conscious choice between the US "Pax Silica" initiative and competing projects that the American administration considers a threat to national security and technological sovereignty. ### The "Pax Silica" Ultimatum: Being Part of Everything Means Belonging to Nothing The essence of the American initiative, launched last year, is the creation of a closed ecosystem integrating semiconductor supply chains, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence models. An internal State Department document draft, which became public, emphasizes that participation in Pax Silica is not just a formal registration but a serious political commitment. "Being part of everything also means actually belonging to nothing," the letter text states. Washington explicitly declares that Pax Silica obligations cannot be accepted simultaneously with participation in initiatives whose requirements contradict the interests of the United States. Although China is not mentioned directly in the letter, the context clearly points to the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) created by Beijing. ### China's Response: WAICO and the Pursuit of Technological Sovereignty In response to US pressure, Beijing established WAICO in July 2026, initiated by President Xi Jinping. The organization's goal is to promote global cooperation in AI and popularize Chinese models, which are positioned as more accessible and open to developing countries. While Pax Silica aims to restrict competitors' access to advanced chips and resources, WAICO offers an alternative ecosystem. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that civilian AI models in China are demonstrating rapid progress, narrowing the gap with proprietary developments by American giants like OpenAI and Anthropic. This makes the technological choice for many countries not just a matter of loyalty, but of economic expediency. ### Contradictory Data There is significant uncertainty regarding the status of the letter distribution. Reuters reports that it was impossible to determine exactly when the US intended to send these messages and whether their content would be changed before final dispatch. Furthermore, the document draft contains subtle nuances: the US justifies its demands by the need for "reliable positioning" in the technological ecosystem, yet critics point out that this could be an attempt to artificially fragment the global AI market. Particular attention is drawn to the case of Kazakhstan. The country is a member of Pax Silica and is considered an important source of critical minerals, yet it has simultaneously joined the Chinese WAICO. Currently, Kazakhstan is the only known country participating in both organizations, placing it in a difficult diplomatic position in the face of the American ultimatum. ### Geography of Choice: From Argentina to South Korea The list of 35 countries that received the letters is impressive in its diversity and geographical scope. It includes not only traditional US allies such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and NATO countries (Germany, Italy, France), but also states traditionally striving for neutrality or having close economic ties with Beijing. The list includes Argentina, India, Saudi Arabia (through partners), the UAE, as well as countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. US officials state that "you cannot have both at the same time," attempting to isolate China from the resources necessary for the AI arms race. However, given that many of these countries depend on Chinese investment and export markets, forcing a choice could lead to unpredictable geopolitical shifts. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Reuters: US demands 35 countries choose between American and Chinese AI platforms](https://argumenti.ru/world/reuters-ssha-trebuyut-ot-35-stran-vybirat-mezhdu-amerikanskimi-i-kitayskimi-1006320) - Π˜ΡΡ‚ΠΎΡ‡Π½ΠΈΠΊ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ„Π°ΠΊΡ‚ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π³ΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠΈ писСм ГосдСпартамСнтом БША ΠΈ содСрТаниС ΡƒΠ»ΡŒΡ‚ΠΈΠΌΠ°Ρ‚ΡƒΠΌΠ°. - ["Artificial Intelligence β€” the key to global influence: China's race for AI militarization"](https://ru.euronews.com/next/2026/06/16/ai-is-the-key-to-global-power-status-inside-chinas-race-to-militarise-artificial-intellige) - Π”ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹ΠΉ контСкст ΠΎ ΠΌΠΈΠ»ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ€ΠΈΠ·Π°Ρ†ΠΈΠΈ ИИ ΠΈ создании WAICO. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is Pax Silica? **A:** Pax Silica is a US initiative launched in 2025 aimed at creating an alliance of countries to ensure uninterrupted supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI models, excluding competitors. ### Q: Why did Kazakhstan end up at the center of the conflict? **A:** Kazakhstan is a member of Pax Silica as an important source of minerals, but has also joined the Chinese organization WAICO, becoming the only country participating in both competing structures. ### Q: Is China mentioned in the US letters? **A:** No, China is not mentioned directly in the text of the letters, however, the context and requirements regarding the ban on participation in "overlapping initiatives" are clearly directed against Chinese projects.