Washington: Qatar has officially joined a U.S.-led coalition focused on enhancing supply chain cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and related sectors. This move includes collaboration with South Korea and six other member nations. According to Yonhap News Agency, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed signed the document that marks Qatar's accession to the initiative known as "Pax Silica." Launched last month, this economic security initiative aims to counter China's rising influence in advanced technologies. With Qatar's inclusion, the coalition now comprises eight members: the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Britain, Israel, and Singapore. The State Department emphasized the shared understanding between Qatar and the United States that economic security is intrinsically linked to national security. The department further highlighted Qatar's pivotal role in th e coalition, noting its leadership and commitment to secure energy, advanced technology, and critical mineral supply chains. This positions Qatar as a key player in driving global economic growth. The formation of this coalition is part of efforts by the U.S. administration to bolster America's global "AI dominance" and ensure stable supply chains for critical minerals. This initiative is also a strategic step to counter China's control over these essential resources amid growing tensions between the two superpowers. "Pax Silica" derives its name from the Latin term "pax," symbolizing peace, stability, and prosperity, while "silica" refers to the compound integral to producing silicon, a crucial element for AI-enabling computer chips, as explained by the State Department.