Kazakhstan faces US pressure over membership in China’s WAICO
The United States is reportedly preparing to inform Kazakhstan that it may have to decide between competing American and Chinese AI frameworks as Washington hardens its approach to the global technology race.
A draft State Department letter obtained by Reuters is addressed to 35 countries that signed a US AI Opportunity Statement in June. It warns that countries that join the American-led Pax Silica framework cannot be part of competing initiatives whose requirements conflict with Washington’s.
The draft letter purportedly said that countries should «choose deliberately» and argues that Pax Silica membership is a commitment, not simply a diplomatic label. A US official was even more direct, telling Reuters that partners «can’t have it both ways».
Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country in the US-led AI framework. Washington highlighted its importance as a potential supplier of critical minerals needed for semiconductors and advanced technologies. But Astana has also joined China’s World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), which Xi Jinping launched in July.
The draft has not yet been sent and could still change. Kursiv Uzbekistan has reached the US Embassy in Astana for comment.
Why Washington is focusing on Kazakhstan
For Kazakhstan, which Reuters said was a standout case, the issue appears to be particularly sensitive. Central Asia’s biggest economy has spent years pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy, maintaining close economic ties with China while expanding cooperation with the US and Europe.
The US-China AI rivalry is also intensifying just as Chinese open-weight models make gains against proprietary systems from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Washington hopes that tighter alignment among partners will restrict China’s access to minerals, chips and other resources needed to build more advanced systems.
Read more: Vladimir Norov: WAICO gives Uzbekistan leverage in shaping global AI rules
From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan and around the world. To stay up to date and get the latest stories in real time, follow our Telegram channel.
