India’s Pax Silica Entry: What the Global Tech Alliance Means for Tech Future

New Delhiformally joined the US-led tech bloc, Pax Silica, a strategic alliance aimed at strengthening secure supply chains and advancing artificial intelligence cooperation.

The move comes amid ongoing efforts by India and the United States to finalise a proposed Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) and advance negotiations on a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), in a bid to deepen economic ties between two of the world’s largest economies.

US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg travelled to India for a two-day visit beginning Friday to participate in the India AI Impact Summit, which concludes on Saturday.

The US delegation is being led by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The formal signing ceremony is expected to be followed by a brief media interaction featuring US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti alongside Helberg and other senior officials.

What is Pax Silica?

Pax Silica is a flagship initiative of the US Department of State designed to build secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chains for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The alliance reflects Washington’s growing focus on technological sovereignty and supply chain security amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics.

The Pax Silica Declaration underscores the importance of reliable supply chains as indispensable to mutual economic security. It also recognises AI as a transformative force that will shape global competitiveness, economic resilience, and long-term prosperity in the coming decades.

By fostering cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing, rare earth processing, advanced computing infrastructure, and AI governance frameworks, the bloc seeks to reduce vulnerabilities arising from overdependence on single-country supply chains.

Who Are the Current Members?

Current members of Pax Silica include major global powers such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea, along with Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Greece. The grouping is aimed at deepening economic and technological coordination among aligned nations while reducing dependence on non-aligned or geopolitically sensitive supply sources.

The Declaration lays out a shared commitment to deep economic and technological cooperation across supply chains. “We recognise that a reliable supply chain is indispensable to our mutual economic security,” the Pax Silica Declaration states.

In an interview with CNBC, Helberg clarified the strategic intent behind the initiative. “Pax Silica is really not about China; it is about America. We want to secure our supply chains,” he said. “We view India as a key partner to help de-risk and diversify those supply chains.”

How Will Membership Impact India?

India’s accession to Pax Silica is expected to significantly strengthen its position in global technology and supply chain ecosystems. With its large and skilled talent pool, expanding semiconductor ambitions, growing digital infrastructure, and strategic geographic location, India brings considerable value to the alliance.

Membership could accelerate India’s semiconductor manufacturing plans, boost collaboration in critical mineral processing, and enhance its footprint in AI research, development, and deployment.

It also aligns with India’s long-term economic vision for 2047, which seeks to transform the country into a developed economy with strong technological self-reliance.

On the bilateral front, India’s participation in Pax Silica may further solidify US-India strategic ties, particularly in emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure development.

As global competition over technology and supply chains intensifies, India’s inclusion in the bloc signals its growing importance in shaping the next phase of economic and technological cooperation.