The US BFF List is About Technology Protection, Not Just Friendship

The recent decision by the Biden administration to limit the export of advanced AI computing chips to a select group of 18 countries has stirred heated debates. Some nations are quietly sulking, while others—Poland, the Baltic States, Israel, and Lithuania among them—are loudly asking, “Hey, aren’t we supposed to be best friends with the U.S.?”

So why aren’t countries like Poland, Greece, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Israel on the Best Friends Forever (BFF) list? Is it a snub? A conspiracy? A slap in the face? Before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a step back and look at this decision through a more technocratic lens. Spoiler alert: it’s not as personal as it feels.

Breaking Down the Categories

The official statement (here’s the link if you’re curious: White House statement) spells it out pretty clearly. Countries are split into three categories:

1. Category One: No restrictions. These are the ultimate BFFs—trusted partners with a “come and take all the chips you want” kind of vibe.

2. Category Three: Total restrictions. These are the enemies or, let’s just say, not-so-friendly states. No chips for you.

3. Category Two: The grey area. Chips can be exported here, but not all of them, and there are strings attached for the really powerful ones.

Here’s where things get tricky. Many of the countries in Category Two are feeling left out and betrayed. Whether it’s Israel, Poland, Portugal, or Lithuania, the same question keeps popping up: “Are we not good enough friends for you, America?”

It’s Not About Friendship—It’s About Trust

At its core, this decision is about two things: the goal and trust. The goal is straightforward: “The United States must act decisively to lead this transition by ensuring that U.S. technology undergirds global AI use and that adversaries cannot easily abuse advanced AI.” In other words, keep the good stuff away from bad or (!) non-reliable enough actors.

That’s where it gets more complicated. The countries on the list weren’t chosen just because they’re allies but because being allies, they also have “robust technology protection regimes and technology ecosystems aligned with the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.” Translation: these countries have airtight systems to keep sensitive tech safe. If you’re not on the list while being a friend, the U.S. thinks you’ve got some work to do in that department.

Looking in the Mirror

If your country isn’t on the BFF list, it’s time for some self-reflection. Painful as it may be, this isn’t just about being buddies with the U.S.—it’s about proving that your house is in order when it comes to protecting cutting-edge tech. Are your cybersecurity measures top-notch? Do your laws and policies align with what the U.S. sees as secure?

And for those of us in countries feeling left out, it’s also a wake-up call. If we want to make it into the inner circle, we need to push our governments to step up and tighten their tech security. Whatever that means – better intelligence, new laws, stricter controls, better coordination - it’s time to make it happen. With the right moves, the next BFF list might just have more names on it.