The United States is actively courting the Philippines as a key partner in its strategy to counter China’s growing influence in artificial intelligence. Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, has committed to the Philippines through the Pax Silica Initiative, details of which were discussed in an exclusive interview. This initiative comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr publicly defended a related proposal during his State of the Nation address. The US views the competition with China in AI as a defining global contest. Helberg’s commitment signals a deepening of economic and technological ties between Washington and Manila. The Pax Silica Initiative seeks to bolster the Philippines’ capabilities and position within this critical technological landscape, strengthening a strategic alliance. This move is part of a broader US effort to secure allies in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain its competitive edge in AI development.