New Delhi, February 20: India formally joined the US-led strategic alliance "Pax Silica" today, February 20, marking a significant expansion of its technological and economic partnership with Washington. The agreement, signed during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, aims to build resilient global supply chains for artificial intelligence (AI) and critical minerals. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor presided over the ceremony, signalling a renewed momentum in bilateral ties.
What Is Pax Silica?
Pax Silica was launched in December 2025 as a coalition designed to secure the "foundational layers" of the 21st-century economy. By joining the alliance, India aligns itself with a group of nations - including Japan, Australia, the UK, Singapore, and the UAE - committed to creating a secure, innovation-driven supply chain that spans from raw materials to advanced semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure. Donald Trump Accuses Barack Obama of Leaking Classified Information Over ‘Aliens Are Real’ Comments, Says ‘I May Get Him out of Trouble by Declassifying’.
Pax Silica Declaration Signed Between India and the US in New Delhi
#WATCH | Delhi: Pax Silica Declaration signed between India and the US, in the presence of Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology and Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs pic.twitter.com/QyHkM2pebY
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026
US Envoy Sergio Gor described the alliance as a "coalition of capabilities," emphasising that India's entry will be a defining factor in shaping the international order. US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg added that the pact serves as a declaration that the future will be built by "free people joining forces".
Strategic Importance of the Pact
The alliance focuses on several key pillars intended to drive "AI-powered prosperity." These include:
Critical Minerals: Establishing dependable sources for materials essential for high-tech manufacturing.
AI Infrastructure: Cooperation on the hardware and energy requirements needed to sustain transformative AI technologies.
Economic Security: Creating a durable economic order to safeguard partner nations against supply chain disruptions.
The Pax Silica declaration acknowledges that reliable supply chains are "indispensable to mutual economic security," highlighting the transformative potential of trustworthy AI systems in driving global growth. US President Donald Trump Claims Trade Deal With India, Says Reciprocal Tariff Down to 18%.
Context of India-US Relations
India’s decision to join Pax Silica comes at a pivotal moment as New Delhi and Washington work to finalise a proposed trade deal. The move follows a period of diplomatic strain, suggesting a strategic pivot toward technology-led diplomacy. Ambassador Gor had extended a formal invitation to India last month, viewing New Delhi as a vital node in the global technology landscape. For India, the alliance offers a pathway to integrate more deeply into Western-led technology ecosystems while securing the resources necessary for its own domestic "Make in India" initiatives in the semiconductor and electronics sectors.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 11:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).













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