Key facts
- Kazakhstan has joined both the US-led Pax Silica initiative and China's World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
- A draft US State Department letter warned that countries joining China's rival framework could be excluded from the US-led coalition.
- Pax Silica, launched by Washington in December 2025, focuses on securing supply chains for AI infrastructure.
- WAICO, established on July 16, aims to promote international cooperation on AI governance and standards.
- Kazakhstan is important to Pax Silica due to its critical mineral reserves and geographic position.
Kazakhstan finds itself in a delicate position as the United States and China vie for technological dominance in artificial intelligence. The Central Asian nation has joined both the US-led Pax Silica initiative, focused on securing AI supply chains, and China's World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), which aims to promote global AI governance and reduce technological gaps. This dual participation challenges Kazakhstan's traditional foreign policy of maintaining close ties with both major powers.
A draft US State Department letter, reviewed by Reuters, indicated that countries participating in China's rival framework could face exclusion from the US-led coalition, underscoring Washington's desire for "trusted partners" in its AI ecosystem. The US official stated it is difficult for a country to be a trusted partner in one ecosystem while also joining an initiative designed by China to advance a competing vision.
China, however, has urged the US to avoid politicizing trade and technology issues and to stop encouraging countries to pick sides. Kazakhstan, rich in critical minerals essential for AI infrastructure and strategically located, sees opportunities in both initiatives. Pax Silica could offer access to US investment and partnerships, while WAICO provides a platform for cooperation within a China-backed framework. President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has stated that Kazakhstan's participation aligns with China's position on fair access to modern technology.
Analysts suggest that while Kazakhstan may not have made a mistake by joining both blocs, it may have underestimated Washington's resolve. The increasing intertwining of AI with national security and advanced technologies is narrowing the room for maneuver for countries like Kazakhstan, potentially forcing a harder test for its multi-vector policy than in other sectors.