India joins US-led Pax Silica alliance to boost AI, critical minerals supply chain

India has joined the US-led Pax Silica alliance to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The move aims to boost economic security, deepen bilateral ties, and promote resilient, innovation-driven technology cooperation

New Delhi: India on Friday joined the US-led strategic alliance Pax Silica to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI).

The pact was signed at a ceremony during the AI Impact Summit, attended by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

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The decision comes amid efforts by India and the United States to finalise a proposed trade deal and strengthen bilateral ties after a period of strain.

“From the trade deal to Pax Silica to defence cooperation, the potential for our two nations to work together is truly limitless,” Gor said.

He said India’s entry into the alliance was a strategic move that would boost bilateral cooperation, citing the country’s engineering talent and growing capacity in critical mineral processing. Gor also suggested that trusted AI technologies could be shared under the Pax Silica framework.

Helberg described the initiative as a response to economic coercion and over-concentration of global supply chains.

“We say no to weaponised dependency and blackmail, and together we say that economic security is national security,” he said.

The initiative was launched in December to build secure and resilient supply chains for minerals and AI. The Pax Silica Summit was held in Washington on December 12, when partner nations signed the declaration.

Member countries include Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The declaration outlines cooperation across supply chains—from raw materials and semiconductors to AI infrastructure—and commits members to mutual prosperity and security.