Norway has joined Pax Silica, an initiative led by the United States to diversify and strengthen global critical minerals and artificial intelligence supply chains.
Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway’s ambassador to the United States, signed the Pax Silica Declaration in Washington, the Department of State said Wednesday.
“Norway is home to the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, and the depth of that institutional capital combined with critical mineral reserves are important,” Jacob Helberg, U.S. under secretary of state for economic affairs, told Semafor.
What Countries Have Joined Pax Silica?
Norway is the 15th signatory of Pax Silica. Oslo’s decision to join the initiative comes weeks after Sweden also signed the Pax Silica Declaration.
Aside from the U.S., Norway and Sweden, Australia, Singapore, India, Japan, Israel, Qatar, South Korea, Finland, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom have also joined the initiative.
How Does Pax Silica Intend to Diversify Critical Mineral Supply Chains?
According to the Pax Silica Declaration, to strengthen economic security and reduce excessive dependence on concentrated supply chains, member states will cooperate across critical sectors that support the global artificial intelligence economy.
The initiative encourages participating countries to partner on strategic segments of the technology supply chain, including critical minerals refining and processing, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and transportation logistics.
The declaration also calls for mobilizing private sector investment and leveraging the industrial and technological strengths of member economies to develop secure and resilient supply chains for materials and technologies essential to AI systems and advanced computing.
As part of the initiative, the U.S. and the Philippines will establish a 4,000-acre automated manufacturing hub on the island of Luzon. Semafor said Helberg will travel to the site together with a delegation of business leaders interested in working with Pax Silica in the coming days.
