India's Pax Silica Invite a "Historic Milestone" for US Ties, Supply Chains

US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg hailed the invitation for India to join the Pax Silica initiative as a historic milestone for the bilateral partnership, focused on building secure technology supply chains. The US-led strategic initiative aims to create a resilient silicon supply chain and reduce coercive dependencies, notably on China. India's inclusion, after initially being excluded, is expected to significantly boost its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The pact seeks to coordinate trusted nations on everything from critical minerals to AI development, securing the infrastructure for an AI-driven economy.

Key Points: US Invites India to Join Pax Silica Supply Chain Initiative

  • India to join US-led silicon supply chain pact
  • Aims to reduce China's dominance in critical tech
  • Boosts India's semiconductor manufacturing ambitions
  • Part of broader effort to secure AI and tech ecosystems
3 min read

Pax Silica entry a "historic milestone" for US-India partnership: Under Secy Jacob Helberg

US Under Secretary Jacob Helberg calls India's pending entry into the Pax Silica initiative a historic milestone for the partnership, aimed at securing tech supply chains.

"India's pending entry into Pax Silica marks a decisive shift toward reliable and secure supply chains. - Jacob Helberg"

Washington, DC, January 12

US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg highlighted India's likely inclusion in Pax Silica, calling it a key step towards building "reliable and secure supply chains" and describing it as a milestone for the US-India partnership.

Mentioning the development in a post on X, Helberg wrote, "New Delhi will be invited to the table as we operationalize Pax Silica. India's pending entry into Pax Silica marks a decisive shift toward reliable and secure supply chains. A historic milestone for the U.S.-India partnership. The work to harden our supply chains and secure our economic future starts now. Great work, Ambassador Gor."

Helberg's remarks came after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, on Monday, noted that India would be invited to join Pax Silica, a US-led strategic initiative aimed at strengthening a secure and resilient silicon supply chain, during his visit to New Delhi.

In his post on X, Gor wrote, "Pleased to share that India will be invited to join Pax Silica, a U.S.-led strategic initiative to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain. As the world adopts new technology, it is essential that India and the United States work hand-in-hand together."

The development assumes significance as India was excluded from the US-led 'Pax Silica' initiative at the inaugural Pax Silica Summit in 2025, triggering sharp political criticism.

Pax Silica aims to reduce China's dominance and counter coercive dependencies across critical minerals, energy inputs, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and logistics.

Current Members of Pax Silica are US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, UAE and Australia.

India's inclusion is expected to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and position the country as an alternative production hub. Experts note that India could join Pax Silica at a later stage, similar to its participation in the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).

Pax Silica is a key US State Department initiative focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chain security, aimed at encouraging allies and trusted partners to coordinate on secure and reliable technology and economic systems.

In line with this focus, the initiative seeks to develop a common framework among trusted nations to build future AI and advanced technology ecosystems, covering the full technology supply chain, from energy requirements and critical minerals to high-end manufacturing, chip production, and AI model development.

In the longer term, Pax Silica aims to bring together countries with strong capabilities in strategic technology sectors. Supporters argue that such coordination could help countries harness the economic potential of AI and position them to benefit from the emerging AI-driven economy.

Reflecting this broader ambition, the Pax Silica Declaration states, "We recognise that the technological revolution in AI is accelerating, increasingly reorganising the world economy, and reshaping global supply chains,".

The declaration further notes that the rapid expansion of AI is driving unprecedented demand for the resources and infrastructure required to sustain advanced computing. This includes energy generation, critical minerals, high-tech manufacturing and hardware such as semiconductors and electronics, as well as new infrastructure and markets that may evolve alongside AI adoption.

A central objective of the initiative is to curb coercive dependencies by reducing over-reliance on any single country for critical technologies, materials or products, thereby limiting vulnerability to pressure or manipulation in global trade.

It also seeks to strengthen trusted digital infrastructure and ensure advanced technologies remain protected from theft and misuse.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As someone working in tech policy, this is a significant development. The initial exclusion was a diplomatic misstep. Inclusion now shows the US is serious about de-risking from China and sees India as a reliable, long-term partner. The focus on secure AI infrastructure is crucial.
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Priya S
Good step, but we must be cautious. We should ensure this partnership truly benefits our domestic industry and doesn't just make us a junior partner. The terms of technology transfer and IP sharing need to be clear. Jai Hind!
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Rohit P
Better late than never! The 2025 exclusion was embarrassing. This invite is a result of consistent diplomatic efforts. Now, our focus should be on execution - building those fabs, skilling our workforce, and becoming a true global hub. The world needs a reliable alternative to China.
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Michael C
While this is a positive development for US-India relations, I hope it leads to tangible outcomes for the average Indian. These partnerships often sound great in headlines but the real test is in job creation and technology accessibility for our MSMEs.
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Kavya N
This is about more than just chips. It's about securing our digital future. AI is the next frontier and being part of this framework ensures we help shape the rules, not just follow them. A smart strategic move by our diplomats. 👏

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