Israeli-U.S. relations are moving to a new institutional level with the announcement of a strategic partnership in artificial intelligence, scientific research and biotechnology, under the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, which brings together a group of countries active in advanced technology fields.
Israeli internet and computer expert Dr. Tal Pavel placed the launch of the Israeli-U.S. strategic partnership in artificial intelligence within the context of global technological competition, particularly with China.
In remarks to Alhurra, Pavel said the current partnership represents an extension of Israel’s accession to the Pax Silica initiative, launched by the United States last December. The initiative includes 10 countries and aims to build supply chains and technological cooperation among allied nations in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, advanced computing and space.
The joint declaration was signed in Jerusalem last week, making Israel the first country to sign a cooperation framework of this kind under the initiative, which Washington says is intended to build networks of technological collaboration among allied states in fields including artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy and space.
The declaration was signed by Erez Eskil, head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Authority, and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, in the presence of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The declaration establishes an organized framework for cooperation in research and development, computing infrastructure, biotechnology and emerging technologies. According to the joint statement, the framework aims to coordinate government efforts with the academic and industrial sectors and to strengthen links between scientific research and advanced technological applications.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the new partnership represents “a further expansion of the existing cooperation between Israel and the United States,” describing it as part of a broader effort to widen the scope of bilateral partnership.
For his part, Eskil said that joining Pax Silica and signing the joint declaration reflect a long-term approach that includes investment in infrastructure, development of human capital and expanded cooperation with universities and technology companies. He noted that artificial intelligence has become increasingly linked to issues of economic policy and national security.
Pavel said the move follows a period marked by tighter U.S. policies related to the export of advanced technologies. He explained that one of the final decisions of the administration of former President Joe Biden involved imposing restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips in an effort to preserve U.S. technological superiority in the face of China. He added that those restrictions placed Israel in a “middle category” alongside dozens of countries, limiting access for its companies to certain advanced chips, before the restrictions were lifted in May of the same year.
Pavel argued that the launch of the new partnership under President Donald Trump reflects a different approach based on “strengthening technological cooperation within blocs of allied countries,” rather than relying primarily on policies of bans and restrictions, as Washington seeks to reorganize the global landscape of technological dominance.
During the signing ceremony, Under Secretary Helberg said the partnership aims to ensure that “allied countries shape the future of technology.” Ambassador Huckabee said the cooperation is not limited to artificial intelligence, but also includes supply chains, critical minerals, quantum computing and other advanced technologies.
According to the joint statement, a “Joint Economic Development Group” will oversee implementation of the areas of cooperation under a non-legally binding framework focused on linking research and development with advanced manufacturing and strengthening Israel’s position within the U.S.-led technological cooperation ecosystem.
