There’s a new chessboard shaping the future of global influence, and its pieces are neither tanks, development aid, nor treaties—they are algorithms, semiconductors, compute power, data flows, and the policies that govern them. It’s called AI Diplomacy—and whether we admit it or not, the game has already begun.
The United States: AI as a Core of National Strategy
AI is already recognized as a strategic pillar of U.S. foreign policy—a realization that transcends political divisions. Under President Biden, this was reflected in Executive Order 14110, which embedded AI considerations into national security, civil rights, and global cooperation frameworks, aiming to ensure that AI advancements align with democratic values and international standards.
But AI diplomacy is not confined to one political camp. Under President Trump’s administration, Executive Order 14179, titled “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” was introduced to promote AI development free from ideological constraints and to establish an action plan for sustaining global AI dominance. The agenda continued with the appointment of David Sacks—a tech entrepreneur and investor —as the White House AI and Cryptocurrency Czar. Sacks’ role, though not officially titled as such, functions as a form of AI diplomacy: engaging with industry, countries, shaping legal frameworks, and ensuring the U.S. remains competitive and engaged in a rapidly evolving global AI landscape. Across administrations, the message is clear—AI is no longer just a technical issue; it is a new vector of diplomatic influence, a core element of national strategy, and a critical arena where the future of power, security, and international relations is being negotiated.
China: Exporting Infrastructure, Shaping Norms
China is also pursuing a multifaceted strategy in AI diplomacy, intertwining technological advancement with geopolitical influence. Through its Digital Silk Road initiative, China has been exporting digital infrastructure, including AI risk management tools, and data governance models, to various countries across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. This approach not only facilitates technological development in these regions but also embeds Chinese standards and norms into their digital ecosystems.
A notable development in China’s AI landscape is the emergence of DeepSeek, an AI startup that has garnered attention for its advanced language models. Despite facing restrictions on access to high-end chips, DeepSeek has developed models like DeepSeek-R1 and its upgraded version R1-0528, which reportedly rival the performance of leading US AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT series, but at a fraction of the cost.
China’s strategy reflects a broader vision of integrating AI into its foreign policy objectives, leveraging technological exports to foster long-term partnerships and influence global digital norms.
Europe: Writing the Rules, but Can It Shape the Game?
Europe focuses on policy and governance so far. The AI Act is a bold attempt at setting global standards—a first-of-its-kind legal framework that categorizes AI systems based on risk, from unacceptable to minimal. It mandates transparency, accountability, and safeguards against misuse, extending its influence beyond borders by requiring compliance from any AI system operating in the EU, regardless of origin. This is the EU’s vision of AI diplomacy: a human-centric model anchored in rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
But even there, debates reveal a deeper struggle: will the continent remain a regulatory hub, setting rules that others ignore, or can it influence the global AI agenda before it’s too late? While the AI Act is a powerful signal, there are concerns that Europe’s stringent regulations may stifle innovation, especially for startups and small enterprises. That said, the EU is not sitting still. The InvestAI initiative, announced in early 2025, aims to mobilize €200 billion for AI development across the continent, including the creation of AI ‘gigafactories’ with advanced compute capacity. Europe is also forging international partnerships, such as the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, to promote ethical AI aligned with democratic values. The question is whether these efforts will be enough—not just to keep Europe in the game, but to shape the very rules of the game itself.
The Core Elements of AI Diplomacy
AI diplomacy is not a single-track agenda—it is a complex, multidimensional field where technology, policy, and geopolitics converge. It encompasses a range of critical elements, including:
- Standards and Regulation: Who defines the ethical frameworks, technical benchmarks, and legal safeguards that govern AI systems globally?
- Access to Compute and Chips: Who controls the hardware and infrastructure that enable AI development—an increasingly strategic resource in the digital economy?
- Data Governance: Who owns, controls, and secures the data that fuels AI? Data is the new oil, and its flows are shaping the balance of power.
- Talent and Knowledge Sharing: Who builds AI capacity—through research, education, and cross-border collaboration—and who is left behind?
- AI for Global Public Goods: How is AI deployed for climate action, health equity, peacebuilding, and disaster resilience—and who decides those priorities?
- AI and Security Alliances: How are AI capabilities integrated into defense pacts, intelligence sharing, and cyber norms?
These elements are not abstract—they are shaping trade negotiations, regional alliances, and global governance structures. AI diplomacy is about building coalitions, shaping norms, and ensuring that the future of AI reflects shared human values—not just technological competition.
The Future of Foreign Policy
AI is fast becoming a central element of modern foreign policy—an intersection where technology, trade, security, development, and environmental goals converge. It is no longer possible to separate AI from the broader fabric of international relations. Just as energy diplomacy once reshaped alliances, or climate diplomacy reframed global priorities, AI is emerging as a new axis of strategic engagement. It influences who builds and controls critical infrastructure, who sets the rules for data flows, who leads in standard-setting bodies, and who has a voice in shaping global narratives. It determines the ethical baselines for how technology is used in everything from healthcare and education to surveillance and warfare.
In this evolving landscape, AI diplomacy is not just about technical expertise—it is about foresight, values, and the capacity to navigate competing interests in a way that advances the global common good. It requires bridging sectors: engaging with industry, academia, and civil society, while also participating in global governance forums, treaty negotiations, and cross-border initiatives. It is, in many ways, the next frontier of multilateralism—a space where leadership will be defined by those who engage, shape, and build the future.
The challenge is clear: AI is not waiting. The frameworks are being built, the standards are being set, and the power dynamics are already shifting. The question is not whether AI diplomacy is important—it is how it will shape the future, and who will shape it.
Ali Al Mokdad
