In a move that significantly bolsters ties between New Delhi and Washington DC, India has joined the US-led Pax Silica initiative, deepening cooperation between the two countries on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical mineral supply chains. The declaration was signed on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.
The development plugs one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies into a US-driven framework that seeks to secure emerging technology supply chains, reduce vulnerabilities and align like-minded partners on AI governance and infrastructure. At its core, Pax Silica is pitched as a coalition to protect prosperity, sovereignty and innovation from coercive dependencies, and India’s entry is being cast as both strategic and symbolic of its rise as a trusted tech partner.
India joins the US-led Pax Silica coalition, marking a significant step in strengthening trusted semiconductor and technology supply chains. #PaxSilica #SemiconductorMission #IndiaUSPartnership #DigitalIndia #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026@PMOIndia @narendramodi @AshwiniVaishnaw pic.twitter.com/qbdMp4HlCP
— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) February 20, 2026
US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg said the partnership is about protecting prosperity from coercion.
“Economic security is national security. Sovereignty does not come from global bureaucracy. It comes from hardworking people,” Helberg said. He added that Pax Silica aims to replace “coercive dependencies with trusted partnerships” and ensure that supply chains remain resilient and secure.
Welcoming India into the initiative, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the move as a choice for freedom and innovation.
“We choose freedom. We choose partnership. We choose strength. And today, with India’s entry into Pax Silica, we choose to win,” Gor said, emphasizing that innovation must thrive in free societies rather than surveillance-driven systems.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was present at the signing ceremony, called India’s participation a strategic and forward-looking step.
“India’s engineering talent, growing semiconductor ecosystem and strong digital infrastructure make us a natural partner in building trusted AI systems,” Vaishnaw said. “This partnership will help create resilient supply chains, secure critical technologies and ensure that innovation benefits our people and the world.”
The Union Minister added that India is committed to building responsible and inclusive AI while strengthening cooperation with trusted global partners. “As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, partnerships like Pax Silica will ensure that growth is secure, sustainable and shared.”
With India entering Pax Silica, the alliance gains a foothold in one of the world’s most rapidly expanding digital economies at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming global economic and strategic dynamics.
Also Read: “India Must Build its Own AI Strength:” MP Raghav Chadha at AI Impact Summit
