Trump-Era AI Deals with Gulf States Spark Security Concerns

​ Updated May 28, 2025
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Deals‍ struck during President Trump’s Middle East trip‍ to supply advanced U.S. chips and construct large data centers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are facing scrutiny.One agreement aims to build⁤ the‍ largest ⁢artificial intelligence ⁣campus outside the U.S. ​in the UAE, while another expands the country’s access to advanced AI chips.

the White House has promoted these agreements as a way to boost the U.S. tech sector and ⁢extend American influence in the⁤ artificial intelligence sector. Commerce Secretary Howard W. Lutnick hailed ​the UAE agreement as a “historic” partnership and ‍a step ⁢toward U.S. AI dominance.

However, concerns are mounting over potential security risks. The White House stated the UAE committed to strict measures preventing ⁢technology‌ diversion and⁣ ensuring controlled access.

Despite these assurances, some experts and Democratic lawmakers remain ‌skeptical.

A group of Senate Democrats ​urged the Trump⁤ administration to increase scrutiny of the AI deals, warning of a “breathtaking rollback of export control restrictions.” They called for safeguards to prevent sensitive technology from reaching China and Russia.

Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for secure AI technology leadership and verifiable guardrails to prevent the Chinese Communist party from gaining indirect access.

Egan: Something that ​concerns me and needs to be worked out over time is what security measures are ⁤being put in place to safeguard U.S. interests with ​these deals.

janet Egan, a Senior Fellow⁣ at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), highlighted the need for robust security measures to protect U.S. interests.‌ She noted the ‍potential for‌ dual-use capabilities of​ AI and the importance of maintaining a U.S. led ‌in computational resources.

Georgia‍ Adamson, a‌ Research Associate at the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center, pointed ⁣out the UAE’s ambition to ​become a global AI leader and its close ties to China. She questioned how the U.S. will engage with emerging powers that may not always be aligned with U.S. interests.

Adamson: There are some real security concerns here. To start with, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have deep ties to China in various⁣ parts of their ​economies, including in emerging and⁢ critical technologies.

Adamson also raised concerns about potential backdoors⁢ for China to access cutting-edge compute through ⁣these deals, despite security controls implemented⁢ by U.S. companies. She stressed the importance of careful monitoring and stringent controls.

Egan suggested implementing‌ “know-your-customer” ‍regimes,similar to those in the banking sector,to understand who⁢ is using the compute‌ resources and prevent misuse. She also​ highlighted the risk of shell companies being used to​ circumvent due diligence.

Adamson noted that while there is a government-to-government agreement with the UAE involving security⁣ pledges, the specifics of these controls are somewhat vague, ​especially after ‌the Trump administration revoked the AI diffusion rule.

What’s​ next

The implementation of these AI deals will require dedicated effort and attention from the U.S. government to ensure sufficient guardrails‍ are in ‍place and effectively enforced.‍ Supporters argue that⁣ these moves are⁤ necessary to expand American influence and outcompete China in the global AI race, but only if security concerns are adequately addressed.