US weighs prospects of secure AI base in Israel’s Negev to counter China: Report

The United States is reportedly exploring the possibility of establishing a secure artificial intelligence base in Israel’s Negev Desert as part of a broader effort to safeguard its dominance in the global AI race, according to Hudson Institute fellows Michael Doran and Zineb Riboua in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published last week.

As per the reports published, American and Israeli officials are discussing a joint initiative known in Israel as “Project Spire.” The proposed facility would combine the security standards of a US military installation with the research and engineering culture of a major technology hub. The plan, as described in the op-ed, centres on three Israeli-proposed sites in the Western Negev.

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Israel would reportedly provide the land through a long-term lease for American use, while the facility itself would be designed to host research and development operations, major server infrastructure, dedicated energy systems, chip design, AI model training, and potentially advanced semiconductor production.

Doran and Riboua argue that the Negev Desert could serve as a strategic hub for a future US-Israel AI partnership, building on existing industrial cooperation such as Intel’s operations in Kiryat Gat. They envision the proposed AI base as a centre for advanced computing, chip development, software innovation, and energy infrastructure essential for next-generation artificial intelligence.

According to them, the project would strengthen both economies by keeping key technologies under American ownership while enabling production and expansion across the US, ultimately creating high-value jobs and helping American companies retain their edge in critical AI systems.

The proposal has been framed as a response to the vulnerabilities of existing supply chains. Taiwan remains central to global semiconductor production but is exposed to geopolitical pressure from China. Other allies, including Britain, Japan, South Korea, and India, each possess major strengths, but the writers argue that Israel offers a rare mix of operational speed, technological depth, battlefield-driven innovation, and strategic trust with Washington.

If approved, Project Spire could become a model for similar secure AI facilities in other allied countries. The core idea is that the US would not retreat from global technological cooperation but instead move it into controlled environments where intellectual property, military applications, and sensitive infrastructure are better protected.

The project would also mark a significant expansion of Israel’s role in the global AI and semiconductor race.