Title:
Singapore and the US-Led Pax Silica Declaration: Strategic Alignment in Artificial Intelligence and Global Tech Supply Chains
Abstract
This paper examines Singapore’s accession to the US-led Pax Silica Declaration in December 2025, a multilateral initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and secure technology supply chains. Signed by seven technologically advanced democracies—Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Singapore—the declaration establishes a non-binding framework for aligning strategic technological priorities under a shared vision of economic security, trust, and innovation. Drawing on official statements, policy documents, and geopolitical analysis, this paper analyzes the implications of the declaration for global technology governance, assesses Singapore’s strategic motivations for joining, and explores the broader contestation between techno-democratic and techno-authoritarian models of development. It argues that the Pax Silica initiative represents an emerging “economic security consensus” among liberal democracies, with Singapore playing a pivotal role as a regional hub and trusted node in global digital networks.
Keywords: Pax Silica, artificial intelligence, technology diplomacy, digital infrastructure, supply chain security, Singapore foreign policy, economic statecraft, techno-democracy
- Introduction
On December 12, 2025, at the inaugural Pax Silica Summit hosted in Washington, D.C., Singapore joined six other leading technological democracies in signing the Pax Silica Declaration, a landmark statement of intent to deepen collaboration on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and resilient technology supply chains. While non-binding, the declaration signals a significant shift in the geopolitics of technology, marking the consolidation of a Western-aligned coalition seeking to counterbalance rising strategic vulnerabilities in an era of AI-driven competition.
The term Pax Silica—a neologism blending the Latin pax (peace, stability) with silica, the foundational material for silicon chips—symbolizes a new era of techno-economic order underpinned by shared values, trusted ecosystems, and collective resilience. This paper provides a comprehensive academic analysis of the declaration, focusing particularly on Singapore’s role and strategic calculus. It explores the declaration’s origins, content, geopolitical context, and potential long-term impact on international technology governance.
- Conceptual Framework: Techno-Nationalism and Economic Security
In recent years, technological leadership has become a central axis of great power competition. As AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and data networks redefine national power, states have increasingly adopted policies of techno-nationalism—the strategic protection and promotion of domestic technological capabilities as instruments of national security (Graham, 2023). This paradigm shift has led to the rise of economic security as a core component of foreign and defense policy, especially in liberal democracies concerned about dependency on adversarial states for critical technologies.
The concept of Pax Silica builds upon earlier notions of Pax Americana (U.S.-led liberal order) and Pax Sinica (China’s Belt and Road Initiative and digital silk road), but is uniquely focused on the digital infrastructure layer of global economic integration. Unlike traditional security alliances, Pax Silica emphasizes technological complementarity, supply chain resilience, and trust-based digital networks as pillars of collective prosperity and systemic stability.
This framework reflects an emerging consensus among advanced democracies that technological openness must be balanced with strategic autonomy and security. As articulated in U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) 2025, “the future of global innovation will be determined not only by technological breakthroughs, but by the integrity of the systems that enable and sustain them.”
- The Genesis and Objectives of the Pax Silica Initiative
3.1 Origins and Institutional Backing
Launched by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the Department of Commerce and the National Security Council, the Pax Silica Summit was positioned as the flagship diplomatic effort to institutionalize cooperation among trusted partners in the domain of strategic technologies. The initiative builds on prior efforts such as the Chip 4 Alliance, the Clean Network, and the Blue Dot Network, but expands their scope from physical infrastructure and semiconductors to encompass the full stack of digital transformation—from raw materials to AI applications.
The December 2025 summit brought together senior officials from foreign ministries, digital economy agencies, and private sector leaders. Singapore was represented by Chng Kai Fong, Permanent Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), underscoring the high-level inter-agency coordination required for such initiatives.
3.2 Key Provisions of the Declaration
The Pax Silica Declaration outlines five interrelated objectives:
Development of Trust-Based Digital Infrastructure: Signatories commit to building and deploying secure, resilient, and interoperable information networks—including fibre-optic cables, subsea data links, data centers, and cloud platforms—using trusted vendors and open, transparent standards.
Collaboration on Strategic Technology Stacks: The declaration identifies nine “strategic stacks” for joint investment and risk mitigation:
Software applications and platforms
Frontier foundation models (e.g., large language models)
Information connectivity and network infrastructure
Compute and semiconductors
Advanced manufacturing
Transportation logistics
Minerals refining and processing
Energy systems for data-intensive computing
Cybersecurity and data governance
Promotion of AI for Public Good: AI is recognized as a transformative force that must be harnessed responsibly to address societal challenges—including healthcare, climate resilience, and education—while safeguarding against bias, disinformation, and autonomous threats.
Private-Sector Engagement: Governments pledge to foster public-private partnerships, creating incentives for leading tech firms, startups, and investors to co-develop trusted solutions within aligned regulatory environments.
Rules-Based Technological Order: The declaration affirms adherence to multilateral norms in cyberspace, data flows, intellectual property rights, and digital trade, promoting interoperability across jurisdictions.
Crucially, the declaration is non-binding, functioning as a political commitment rather than a legal treaty. However, it establishes a coordination mechanism through a newly formed Pax Silica Steering Group, which will convene annually and oversee working groups on AI safety, semiconductor resilience, and digital trade standards.
- Singapore’s Strategic Rationale for Joining
4.1 Positioning as a Trusted Global Node
Singapore’s decision to join the declaration reflects its long-standing strategy of positioning itself as a neutral, rules-based, and technologically advanced node in global digital networks. Despite its small size, Singapore has developed world-class digital infrastructure, hosting more than 80 data centers and serving as a critical hub for submarine cable systems connecting Asia to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
By aligning with the Pax Silica initiative, Singapore reinforces its reputation as a trusted third country (TTC), particularly valuable in a climate of U.S.-China decoupling. As former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted in 2024, “Singapore does not wish to be caught in a binary choice between blocs. But we will always stand with those who uphold the rules-based order.”
4.2 National Digital Economy and AI Strategy
Singapore’s domestic priorities align closely with the declaration’s goals. The nation’s Smart Nation Initiative and National AI Strategy 2.0 emphasize AI deployment in healthcare (e.g., predictive diagnostics), urban planning (e.g., smart traffic systems), and financial services (e.g., fraud detection). Participation in Pax Silica provides access to cutting-edge AI models, compute capacity, and joint research projects that would be difficult to achieve unilaterally.
Moreover, Singapore seeks to become a regional testbed for trusted AI—a vision advanced through initiatives like the Model AI Governance Framework and the AI Verify Foundation. The declaration supports this ambition by encouraging cross-border validation of AI systems and mutual recognition of ethical standards.
4.3 Supply Chain Resilience and Geopolitical Hedging
As a small, trade-dependent economy, Singapore is acutely aware of vulnerabilities in global supply chains. The disruptions caused by the pandemic and U.S.-China trade tensions exposed weaknesses in semiconductor logistics, medical equipment sourcing, and digital platform dependence.
Through Pax Silica, Singapore gains inclusion in a resilient network of suppliers and logistics partners. For instance, Singapore-based firms such as ST Engineering and Micron Technology stand to benefit from collaborative R&D on advanced packaging and domestic foundry development. Additionally, Singapore’s role in maritime shipping and air cargo positions it as a key node in the secure transportation of high-value tech components.
Importantly, the declaration allows Singapore to hedge strategically. While maintaining strong economic ties with China—including through the China-Singapore Guangzhou and Suzhou Industrial Parks—its participation in Pax Silica signals a de-risking posture consistent with its broader foreign policy of balancing engagement with strategic prudence.
- Geopolitical Implications: A New Tech Bloc?
5.1 The Emerging Techno-Democratic Coalition
The formation of the Pax Silica group mirrors broader trends toward the bifurcation of the global tech ecosystem. On one side lies a U.S.-led coalition prioritizing open innovation, data privacy, and democratic accountability; on the other, a China-influenced model emphasizing state-led development, digital sovereignty, and surveillance-capable infrastructure.
While not explicitly naming China, the declaration’s emphasis on “trusted vendors,” “secure supply chains,” and “commitment to human rights” implicitly excludes actors associated with the Digital Silk Road or Huawei’s 5G dominance. The exclusion of Germany, France, and Canada—despite their technological capabilities—also suggests that membership is based not only on capability but on strategic alignment and intelligence-sharing relationships (Five Eyes, Quad, etc.).
Israel’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy, reflecting its status as a global leader in cybersecurity and AI, despite its geopolitical isolation in the Middle East. Similarly, South Korea’s participation affirms its pivot toward deeper security integration with the U.S., especially in semiconductor manufacturing (Samsung, SK Hynix).
5.2 Challenges of Coherence and Implementation
Despite its symbolic significance, the declaration faces several challenges:
Lack of Binding Mechanisms: As a political declaration, it lacks enforcement mechanisms or funding commitments, raising questions about implementation.
Divergent Regulatory Frameworks: Differences in data protection laws (e.g., GDPR vs. Singapore’s PDPA), AI regulations (EU AI Act vs. U.S. sectoral approach), and export controls may hinder integration.
Private Sector Leadership vs. State Coordination: Much of the innovation in AI and semiconductors is driven by private firms (e.g., NVIDIA, Microsoft, Alibaba). Ensuring sustained corporate buy-in will be crucial.
Global South Perceptions: The initiative risks being perceived as an exclusionary “club of the rich,” undermining efforts to build inclusive digital partnerships in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Nonetheless, the declaration sets the stage for future institutionalization, potentially evolving into a Pax Silica Partnership with joint funding mechanisms, joint certification standards, and coordinated investment screening.
- Case Study: Building Trusted Information Networks
One of the most concrete aspects of the declaration is the commitment to build “trusted information networks,” including undersea cables and data centers. This is particularly relevant for Singapore, which hosts several major cable landing stations, including those for the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) and the South-East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 6 (SEA-ME-WE 6).
Recent years have seen increasing scrutiny over Chinese involvement in critical telecom infrastructure. In 2023, Australia blocked Huawei from participating in a subsea cable project to the Solomon Islands, citing national security concerns. Similarly, the U.S. has pressured allies to avoid reliance on Chinese-owned or -financed digital infrastructure.
Under Pax Silica, member states are expected to:
Conduct joint risk assessments of cable routes and landing points
Promote use of trusted vendors (e.g., NEC, SubCom) for undersea cables
Establish mutual recognition protocols for data center security certifications
Share threat intelligence on cyber-physical attacks
Such cooperation enhances not only security but also redundancy. For instance, a joint study released during the summit estimated that diversifying cable paths through Singapore and Australia could reduce the risk of regional internet outages by up to 40% in the event of a natural disaster or deliberate sabotage.
- Conclusion
The signing of the Pax Silica Declaration marks a foundational moment in the evolution of global technology governance. By joining this initiative, Singapore has reaffirmed its strategic orientation toward a rules-based, secure, and innovative digital future. While the declaration is non-binding, its significance lies in the symbolic and practical alignment of like-minded democracies around a shared technological destiny.
For Singapore, the benefits are multifaceted: enhanced access to frontier technologies, strengthened supply chain resilience, and elevated diplomatic stature as a trusted intermediary in an increasingly polarized world. Domestically, the declaration supports Singapore’s ambition to become a global leader in ethical AI and digital infrastructure.
More broadly, Pax Silica reflects a fundamental reordering of international relations in the digital age—one where silicon, data, and algorithms are as strategically significant as oil, steel, and territory were in the 20th century. As the contest between openness and control intensifies, initiatives like Pax Silica offer a framework for liberal democracies to shape the norms, networks, and innovations that will define the 21st-century world order.
References
Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), Singapore. (2025). Statement on the Signing of the Pax Silica Declaration. December 14, 2025.
U.S. Department of State. (2025). Pax Silica Initiative: Advancing a Shared Economic Security Consensus. https://www.state.gov/pax-silica
Lee, H. L. (2024). Singapore’s Foreign Policy in an Age of Tech Rivalry. IPS Nanyang Lecture.
Graham, D. (2023). Techno-Nationalism: How Governments Are Reshaping Innovation. Harvard Kennedy School Press.
National Security Council, United States. (2025). National Security Strategy: Securing the Digital Future.
OECD. (2025). AI Governance and International Cooperation: Mapping the Landscape.
International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). (2025). Securing Subsea Infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.
Government of Singapore. (2024). National AI Strategy 2.0: Transforming Lives, Building Trust.
Author Note:
This paper was written independently and does not represent the views of any government or institution. All sources are publicly available as of December 15, 2025.
End of Paper