Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Singapore navigate US‑China AI blocs

US‑China AI blocs tighten their grip

Washington has branded its emerging AI alliance Pax Silica, a network that promises advanced chips, trusted‑AI standards and deep supply‑chain ties. Beijing counters with the World AI Cooperation Organization (WACO), a coalition that stresses openness and lower‑cost, open‑source models. Both blocs are courting third‑party nations to expand influence and secure critical resources.

Kazakhstan walks both sides

Kazakhstan’s AI minister Zhaslan Madiyev flew to Washington in early June for talks on strengthening AI supply chains, then turned up in Shanghai three weeks later to sign a founding‑member agreement with WACO. The Central Asian state hopes to shape global AI policy while keeping access to cutting‑edge US hardware.

The country recently inked a $10 billion investment with Nvidia to build a “data centre valley,” leveraging cheap electricity and abundant rare‑earth minerals. Chinese foreign direct investment hit a record $2.8 billion in 2025, and President Xi Jinping met President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev in July to deepen Belt‑and‑Road cooperation.

Former diplomat Dana Masalimova warned, “We don’t want a binary choice,” describing Kazakhstan’s position as “very precarious.”

Indonesia and Singapore eye dual benefits

Indonesia, rich in nickel and copper, joined WACO earlier this year. Mari Pangestu, vice‑chair of the Indonesian National Economic Council, told reporters, “We should be able to be part of both and pick the best system.”

In Singapore, US‑based Anthropic is opening its latest Asia office, while the city‑state is reportedly weighing membership in WACO as well.

What the superpowers say

Former President Donald Trump asserted that “whoever wins AI, wins.” The US State Department later cautioned that partners in Pax Silica must not simultaneously back competing AI visions. Beijing’s embassy in Washington replied that AI “should not be owned by major countries” and promoted its open‑source approach.

Experts flag a narrowing window

Brookings fellow Kyle Chan describes nations like Kazakhstan as “swing countries” caught between the two blocs. Carnegie Endowment researchers Anton Leicht and Sam Winter‑Levy note that European powers may soon have to rely on US policy whims for data‑centre access. Overall, analysts say most countries will eventually have to make a strategic choice as they lack the capacity to develop frontier AI models themselves.

The road ahead

With AI increasingly tied to national security and economic growth, the emerging blocs are likely to cement standards, supply chains and investment flows. For countries in the middle, the challenge will be to extract the most value while preserving autonomy.