Pax Silica Pact: India Plugs Into US Tech Alliance to Secure Chips, AI and Critical Minerals
•February 20, 2026
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Why It Matters
The alliance strengthens India’s strategic position in the global tech ecosystem while bolstering U.S. efforts to diversify critical supply chains, enhancing economic and national security for both nations.
Key Takeaways
- •India joins US‑led Pax Silica tech coalition.
- •Pact targets chips, AI, critical minerals supply.
- •India aims to become semiconductor design hub.
- •Agreement reduces reliance on adversarial supply chains.
- •Builds on recent US‑India trade agreement.
Pulse Analysis
Pax Silica, the United States’ flagship framework for a trusted technology network, has evolved from a diplomatic concept into a concrete coalition that spans the entire silicon stack. By welcoming India, the alliance not only expands its geographic reach but also signals a decisive shift away from the concentrated supply chains dominated by geopolitical rivals. The move dovetails with Washington’s broader strategy to embed democratic values in high‑tech ecosystems, ensuring that critical components—from rare‑earth minerals to AI models—remain under the control of allied economies.
India’s entry arrives at a pivotal moment for its semiconductor ambitions. Recent policy incentives, free access to world‑class design tools, and a surge of engineering talent have enabled Indian teams to prototype 2‑nanometre chip architectures—technology once reserved for a handful of global players. This talent pipeline positions India as a potential design hub that could attract downstream fabrication partners, alleviating the chronic fab capacity crunch. Moreover, the partnership offers Indian firms a direct conduit to U.S. research funding and standards, accelerating the commercialization of home‑grown silicon solutions.
The broader implications extend beyond chips. By integrating critical mineral sourcing, AI deployment, and defence‑related technologies, Pax Silica creates a resilient, end‑to‑end supply chain that mitigates the risk of "weaponised dependency" highlighted by U.S. officials. Coupled with the recent interim trade agreement, the pact paves the way for deeper market access, joint R&D ventures, and coordinated export controls. For investors and policymakers, the alliance underscores a new era of collaborative economic security, where technology serves as both a growth engine and a strategic shield in the Indo‑Pacific region.
Pax Silica pact: India plugs into US tech alliance to secure chips, AI and critical minerals
ET Online · Last Updated: Feb 20 2026, 10:57 AM IST
India formally joined the US‑led Pax Silica initiative on Friday, signing the Pax Silica Declaration on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The agreement expands cooperation on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical supply chains.
The declaration stresses the need for resilient supply chains for economic security and positions artificial intelligence as a transformative force for long‑term global prosperity. Pax Silica is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship framework for building a trusted network of partners across the technology and industrial ecosystem.
India bets on semiconductor scale
Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw used the occasion to emphasise India’s long‑term ambitions in semiconductors and electronics manufacturing, framing the current push as the beginning of a compounding growth cycle.
“If this spirit had persisted since 1947, we can imagine the scale of compounding. No problem – even if it starts now. The next generation will reap the benefits,” Vaishnaw said.
He highlighted India’s growing capabilities in advanced chip design, noting that Indian engineers are already working on cutting‑edge 2‑nanometre chips. With the global semiconductor industry expected to require around one million additional skilled workers, he positioned India as a key talent hub.
“Students now have access to the world’s best semiconductor design tools – free of cost – and it is yielding results,” he added, saying India aims to take global leadership in semiconductors and electronics.
Strategic alignment gains momentum
Speaking at the summit, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described India’s entry as a pivotal moment in the evolving global technology order.
“We welcome India into Pax Silica. Just over a month ago, I arrived in this extraordinary nation as the U.S. Ambassador. In my first weeks, I’ve walked the halls of South Block, met with innovators in Bangalore, and broken bread with entrepreneurs who are building the future. What struck me most wasn’t just India’s scale – although that is breathtaking – it’s India’s resolve, the determination to chart its own course.”
He linked the initiative to broader cooperation across trade, defence and technology.
“I keep talking about the limitless potential between our two nations, and I truly mean it. From the trade deal to Pax Silica to defence cooperation, the potential for our two countries to work together is truly limitless. I aim to fulfil that over the next three years that I’m here.”
“No to weaponised dependency”
U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg framed the initiative in sharper geopolitical terms, calling for a break from over‑concentrated and coercive supply chains.
“As we sign the Pax Silica Declaration, we say no to weaponised dependency and no to blackmail,” Helberg said, adding that economic security must be treated as national security.
He outlined a vision of a “full‑stack” technology coalition – spanning critical minerals, semiconductor fabrication and AI deployment – designed to distribute technological power across trusted partners.
“We are securing the full stack of the future – from minerals deep in the earth to the intelligence that will unleash human potential,” he said.
Trade deal lays groundwork
The signing follows an interim trade agreement between the two countries earlier this month, which officials said helped resolve long‑standing friction points and laid the foundation for deeper economic integration.
“Earlier this month, we concluded the interim trade agreement – a deal that shapes the economic contours of the Indo‑Pacific. We overcame friction points that had held us back for far too long. That agreement wasn’t just about trade flows or tariff schedules. It was about two great democracies saying: we will build together, not just buy from one another.”
Full‑stack tech coalition
Gor described Pax Silica as a coalition spanning the entire technology supply chain – from critical mineral extraction to chip manufacturing and AI deployment – aimed at reducing reliance on adversarial systems.
“And now today, we take the next step. India joins Pax Silica, the coalition that will define the 21st‑century economic and technological order. The U.S. leads a strategic coalition designed to secure an entire silicon stack – from the mines where we extract critical minerals, to the fabs where we manufacture chips, to the data centres where we deploy frontier AI. It’s a coalition of capabilities that replaces coercive dependencies with a positive‑sum alliance of trusted industrial bases.”
He added that the grouping would bring together nations committed to open markets and democratic values.
“Pax Silica will be a group of nations that believe technology should empower free people and free markets. India’s entry into Pax Silica isn’t just symbolic – it’s strategic. It’s essential. India is a nation with deep talent, deep enough to rival any challenger. India’s engineering depth offers critical capabilities for this vital coalition.”
Framework and participation
The Pax Silica Declaration includes signatories such as Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE and the UK. Non‑signatory participants include Canada, the Netherlands, the European Union, the OECD and Taiwan.
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg is visiting India from Feb 20–21 as part of the American delegation led by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios. The visit includes bilateral meetings and discussions on expanding cooperation in emerging technologies and advancing the next phase of the U.S. AI Exports Program.
The agreement comes shortly after India’s participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for structured international cooperation to “de‑risk” supply chains and reduce excessive concentration risks.
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