India joins ‘Pax Silica’ alliance, boosting AI and semiconductor ambitions

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India on Friday took a historic step by officially announcing its accession to the US-led strategic alliance "Pax Silica." The signing of this significant declaration will significantly help India strengthen its supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI). The biggest benefit of this global partnership will be that India's heavy dependence on China for imports of rare earth metals will be significantly reduced. Furthermore, it will pose a significant challenge to the Chinese monopoly and dominance in this crucial technology sector.

Historic agreement reached at India AI Impact Summit 2026

This important declaration was signed during the ongoing "India AI Impact Summit 2026" in the capital, New Delhi. The initiative's primary objective is to promote technological collaboration and secure access to resources needed for future next-generation businesses. This move is considered a major step toward finalizing the proposed India-US Trade Deal and deepening bilateral relations between the two countries. It's worth noting that Pax Silica was launched at a summit held in Washington last December, attended by several major countries, including Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and the UK. Led by US Deputy Secretary of Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, this coalition symbolizes a major shift from a 20th-century oil-and-steel dependence to a 21st-century economy driven by silicon and critical minerals.

Electronics and semiconductor industry will get a tremendous boom

India's electronics and semiconductor industry will also benefit directly and significantly from Pax Silica becoming a key partner. Ten semiconductor plants have already been established in the country, and work on several more is progressing rapidly. It is expected that the country's first semiconductor plant will soon begin commercial production. On this occasion, US Ambassador Sergio Gor described this initiative as a vital strategic alliance shaping the economic and technological landscape of the 21st century. He praised India's outstanding engineering talent and stated that the primary goal of this strong partnership is to promote globally trusted AI technology and elevate the India-US tech partnership to new heights.