Pax Silica Declaration

India and the US are poised to sign the Pax Silica declaration, marking a significant step in technology collaboration. The agreement comes after a month of discussions following US ambassador Sergio Gor's announcement regarding India's inclusion in the US-led initiative.

Background and Objectives

• The initiative aims to bring together "friendly and trusted" countries to secure key technologies and supply chains.
• It serves as a strategic countermeasure to China's influence on the global manufacturing supply chain.
• Pax Silica was launched on December 12, 2025, to reduce dependencies and build a secure and prosperous silicon supply chain.

Initial Exclusion and Recent Developments

Initially, India was not included in the Pax Silica, which featured countries like Japan, Republic of Korea, and Singapore. This created concerns about the broader trade differences between India and the US. However, recent diplomatic efforts have led to the inclusion of India, reducing tensions and fostering a closer partnership.

Strategic Importance

• The initiative will focus on protecting sensitive technologies and critical infrastructure from undue control by countries of concern.
• It will also work on building trusted technology ecosystems, including ICT systems, fibre-optic cables, and data centers.
• India's entry is seen as crucial in boosting its semiconductor mission and AI development.

Economic and Technological Impact

The inclusion in Pax Silica aligns with significant investments from US companies in India's AI infrastructure, enhancing India's role in the AI and semiconductor sectors. The presence of top American tech leaders at the India AI Impact Summit, such as Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman, underscores India's growing importance in these fields.