U.S. Push to Outpace China in Central Asian AI Faces Policy Dilemmas
U.S. firms Firebird.ai and NVIDIA are building AI supercomputing hubs in Armenia and Kazakhstan, but conflicting American policy could push the region toward Chinese technology.
In 2025-26, Firebird.ai partnered with NVIDIA to provide high-end compute capacity to emerging Eurasian markets, opening its first supercomputing centre in Armenia with chips approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The venture expanded with a $4 billion second hub in Armenia and a $10 billion agreement with Kazakhstan, aiming to make Astana a regional compute powerhouse. The Trump administration promotes AI and secure supply chains as strategic goals, yet a State Department draft warns that participation in Chinese-led AI pledges could breach the Pax Silica declaration.
Officials have not commented on the unpublished letter, but its tone risks undermining billions in private-sector investment and broader diplomatic goodwill. If policy uncertainty persists, Central Asian states may favour China’s cheaper, more open AI models and its extensive Belt and Road infrastructure. The article argues that the United States should focus on expanding compute resources and coordinated financing rather than demanding exclusive allegiance.
Why it matters
The story shows how U.S. policy choices could determine whether Central Asia aligns with American or Chinese AI ecosystems.
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