What Happened
- Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, called for worldwide AI collaboration that deliberately excludes the US and China.
- Schoof held bilateral discussions with PM Modi on the margins of the AI Summit.
- Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASML expressed strong interest in investing in India's chip manufacturing ecosystem.
- The statement represents a significant diplomatic position, advocating for a "third way" in AI governance that avoids dependence on the two dominant technology superpowers.
Static Topic Bridges
ASML and the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain
ASML Holding N.V., headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, is the world's sole manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines — the most advanced equipment required to produce cutting-edge semiconductor chips. ASML holds a near-monopoly in EUV technology, making the Netherlands one of the most strategically important nodes in the global semiconductor supply chain. The company's machines cost approximately $150-400 million each and are critical for producing chips at 7nm and below.
- ASML headquarters: Veldhoven, Netherlands
- EUV lithography: only ASML produces these machines globally (near-monopoly)
- EUV machine cost: approximately $150-400 million per unit (High NA EUV: $400 million)
- Key customers: TSMC (Taiwan), Samsung (South Korea), Intel (US)
- US-led export controls: Netherlands restricted ASML EUV exports to China (effective January 2024)
- ASML in India: planning support office in GIFT City, Gujarat, linked to Tata Electronics' Dholera fab
- India likely to use ASML's DUV (deep ultraviolet) tools for mature-node chip fabrication, not EUV
Connection to this news: Schoof's visit combines AI diplomacy with semiconductor strategy — ASML's investment interest in India aligns with both the Pax Silica framework and India's semiconductor mission, while the Netherlands navigates US pressure to restrict technology exports to China.
AI Geopolitics — The US-China Technology Rivalry
The global AI landscape is dominated by the US and China, which together account for the vast majority of AI compute capacity, research publications, and frontier model development. The US has imposed export controls on advanced AI chips (NVIDIA A100, H100) to China via the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) since October 2022, creating a bifurcation of the global AI ecosystem. Countries like the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea face pressure to align with US export control frameworks while maintaining economic ties with China.
- US AI chip export controls: October 2022 (BIS), expanded January 2023, further tightened in 2024
- Key restricted chips: NVIDIA A100, H100, and equivalent — banned for export to China
- China's response: developed domestic alternatives (Huawei Ascend 910B), stockpiled chips pre-restriction
- US AI dominance: OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta AI — all US-headquartered
- China AI leaders: Baidu, Alibaba, ByteDance, DeepSeek
- Netherlands role: ASML export restrictions on EUV to China (effective January 2024)
- "Third way" proponents: EU, India, and middle powers seeking to avoid forced alignment
Connection to this news: Schoof's call for AI collaboration "minus US and China" reflects the Netherlands' uncomfortable position at the intersection of US technology export controls and its own economic interests with China, and a desire for an independent European/Global South AI path.
India-Netherlands Bilateral Relations — Strategic Technology Partnership
India and the Netherlands share a growing strategic partnership, particularly in water management, agriculture, and technology. The Netherlands is among the largest European investors in India, and bilateral trade exceeds $15 billion annually. The technology dimension of the relationship has gained prominence due to ASML's role in the semiconductor supply chain and the Netherlands' position within the Pax Silica alliance.
- Diplomatic relations: established 1947 (among the first European countries to recognise India)
- Netherlands: 5th largest EU economy, major trade gateway (Port of Rotterdam, Amsterdam Schiphol)
- Bilateral trade: approximately $15+ billion annually
- Dutch FDI in India: Netherlands is among the top 5 sources of FDI for India
- Key cooperation areas: water management, agriculture, semiconductor technology, port development
- Both countries are Pax Silica members (India joined February 2026)
Connection to this news: Schoof's bilateral with PM Modi and ASML's investment interest signal a deepening technology dimension in India-Netherlands relations, complementing the existing economic and development cooperation framework.
Key Facts & Data
- ASML: world's sole EUV lithography manufacturer, headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands
- EUV machine cost: approximately $150-400 million per unit
- US AI chip export controls on China: since October 2022
- ASML EUV export restrictions to China: effective January 2024
- India AI Impact Summit 2026: 100+ countries, 20 heads of state
- Netherlands among top 5 sources of FDI in India
- India-Netherlands bilateral trade: approximately $15+ billion annually
- Both India and Netherlands are Pax Silica members