New CNAS Report Outlines Strategy for US AI Leadership Through Global Partnerships

The United States must adopt a proactive and partnership-centric strategy to maintain its global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new report released today by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Titled “Global Compute and National Security: Strengthening American AI Leadership Through Proactive Partnerships,” the report emphasizes the critical role of “compute” – the specialized chips, data centers, and technical infrastructure essential for advanced AI systems – as the foundation for sustained AI progress.

Authored by Janet Egan, a senior fellow with the CNAS Technology and National Security Program, the report argues that the nation top in global compute deployment will ultimately shape the norms and rules governing AI’s use. Therefore, safeguarding the U.S. lead in compute is paramount to national security.

“Compute is the most effective U.S. lever to shape the global AI landscape,” stated Egan. “To lead in AI, we can’t rely solely on restrictions; we need a strategy that protects the frontier while building trusted partnerships around the world.”

While acknowledging recent U.S. actions, such as chip export controls, the report highlights persistent challenges. Domestically, energy constraints and permitting delays threaten data center expansion. Internationally, chip smuggling, expanding Chinese investment, and growing interest among U.S. allies in non-American compute options risk eroding the U.S. advantage.

To counter these headwinds, the CNAS report advocates for a dual strategy: protecting frontier capabilities while promoting secure compute partnerships. Key policy recommendations for the U.S. government include strengthening export controls, supporting access to valuable downstream AI applications to reduce demand for sovereign frontier compute, and using strategic investment vehicles to promote U.S. AI projects overseas.

The report also identifies specific priority nations for engagement, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It suggests leveraging existing alliances like AUKUS to enlist trusted frontier AI partners, helping overcome domestic bottlenecks and ensuring continued U.S. benefits from economies of scale. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of championing technical, privacy-preserving solutions to address partners’ “sovereignty” concerns and engaging in multilateral bodies to build legitimacy and strengthen AI data center security.

This CNAS report aligns with recent White House initiatives, including the Trump administration’s “America’s AI Action Plan” and its recent AI agreements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, framing these efforts as early steps in a broader campaign of “compute diplomacy.” The findings underscore a strategic shift towards active promotion and diffusion of U.S. AI technology globally, alongside robust protective measures, to secure America’s long-term AI leadership.