India on Friday formally joined the US-led Pax Silica initiative, signing the declaration at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The move brings India into a strategic technology supply-chain coalition focused on critical minerals and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The declaration was signed by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.
India’s entry follows last month’s interim trade agreement between the two countries, under which US tariffs on Indian imports were reduced from 25 percent to 18 percent, signalling deeper cooperation in technology security and next-generation industries.
Pax Silica is a US-led global framework aimed at building secure and resilient supply chains for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Key features of the initiative:
Brings together trusted partner nations to ensure stable access to critical minerals and strategic inputs
Covers supply chains spanning semiconductors, AI infrastructure, energy systems, advanced manufacturing and logistics
Seeks to reduce reliance on potentially hostile or high-risk jurisdictions
Promotes coordination among like-minded countries in emerging technology ecosystems
At its core, Pax Silica is designed to ensure that future AI-driven industries are supported by secure and diversified supply networks rather than concentrated control by a few players.
The initiative has both economic and geopolitical significance.
Its key objectives include:
Reducing excessive dependence on any single country for essential technologies
Identifying and mitigating supply-chain vulnerabilities
Encouraging joint investments in strategic sectors
Protecting sensitive technology systems through trusted digital networks
Creating long-term economic stability for AI-led innovation
By linking countries that host major technology companies and mineral reserves, the bloc aims to build a durable ecosystem for next-generation industries.
India was not part of the original Pax Silica group when it was launched in December last year in Washington.
Initial partner nations included: Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and the UK.
India’s absence had sparked speculation that trade tensions with Washington may have played a role. However, Jacob Helberg had clarified that membership was determined by countries’ specific roles in global supply chains rather than political differences.
He had also stated that the US maintains ongoing discussions with India to deepen economic security collaboration and considers India a strategic partner in supply-chain resilience.
India’s formal inclusion now underscores its growing importance in global technology manufacturing, digital infrastructure and critical mineral partnerships, positioning it more firmly within the emerging US-led technology security architecture.
