Why Singapore is the only Southeast Asian country in Pax Silica, the U.S.’s new AI 'inner circle'

(Credit: Tasos Katopodis—Getty Images for Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg)

With its new Pax Silica Declaration, Washington has picked its most trusted partners in the AI sector: An array of close U.S. allies, including Australia, the U.K., and Israel. 

Yet despite deepening trade relations between the U.S. and ASEAN nations like Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, Singapore remains the agreement’s only Southeast Asian signatory. That decision comes even as ASEAN nations like Malaysia are investing in their own AI industries, like semiconductors and data centers.