What is Pax Silica? The US-led AI, supply chain bloc India formally joins today in New Delhi

India is set to formally join Pax Silica –the US-led effort on artificial intelligence and supply chain security – on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, being held here in the national capital.

Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg is in India from February 20-21, where he will join the US delegation to the India AI Impact Summit, led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Michael Kratsios.

India will sign the Pax Silica initiative in the presence of Helberg and US Ambassador Sergio Gor. The event is scheduled at 10 am today, the fourth day of the India AI Impact Summit.

The US State Department statement said that the Under Secretary will hold bilateral meetings and deliver remarks at the conference to further the United States' economic relationship and partnerships in emerging technologies with India and help launch the next phase of the American AI Exports Program, part of the AI Action Plan.

The name combines "Pax" (Latin for peace) and "Silica" (referencing silicon chips), symbolising a stable, cooperative, and peaceful technological order.

The coalition aims to secure the entire AI technology stack, from mineral extraction to advanced manufacturing and logistics. It seeks to counter coercive dependencies and enhance economic security.

The Pax Silica Declaration underlines the importance of a reliable supply chain indispensable to mutual economic security and recognises AI as a transformative force for long-term prosperity.

“We recognise that a reliable supply chain is indispensable to our mutual economic security. We also recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) represents a transformative force for our long-term prosperity and that trustworthy systems are essential to safeguarding our mutual security and prosperity,” reads the Pax Silica Declaration.

One of the key pillars of Pax Silica is establishing a durable economic order to drive AI-powered prosperity across partner nations.

As per an official statement by the State Department, while Australia,Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UAE, and the UK are the signatories of the declaration, the non-signatory participants include Canada, the European Union, the Netherlands, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Taiwan.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial, EAM Jaishankar told news agency ANI that India extended its support to the Forum on Resource, Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), a newly launched initiative unveiled at the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, which succeeds the US-led Mineral Security Partnership.

Jaishankar attended the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time), during which the EAM called for structured international cooperation to "de-risk" critical mineral supply chains, noting that "excessive concentration" poses a major global risk.

On Thursday, the summit saw a number of world leaders, CEOs and business leaders from across the globe come together to share their views on artificial intelligence and announce dozens of deals.

India expects more than $200 billion in investments over the next two years, and US tech titans unveiled new deals and infrastructure projects this week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to democratise artificial intelligence, while calling for a transparent approach to data sharing.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of The India AI Impact Summit 2026, PM Modi also presented India’s MANAV Vision for AI, which he said will serve as a crucial link in advancing humanity's welfare.

(With agency inputs)