The US strategy to ensure a secure, prosperous, and innovative ‘silicon’ supply chain, from critical minerals to energy resources, advanced technology manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI development and management, and to reduce dependence on China for technology and critical minerals
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In the first and second weeks of January, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formally signed a memorandum of understanding to participate in the ‘Pax Silica’ initiative.
Earlier, at the inaugural conference of the Silicon Alliance held in Washington DC on December 12, the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UK, Australia and Israel signed the agreement as full members. A few days later, the Netherlands also joined. The US-led PAX Silica initiative has started a debate on a new balance of power in the world's technology and economy.
Washington is also trying to include India in this exclusive club. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore has said that a formal invitation will be sent to India to join it as a full member in February. However, India was not included in the PAX conference in December.
“I am pleased to announce that India will be formally invited to join this group as a full member next month,” Ambassador Gore said at an event organized at the US Embassy in New Delhi last week. “As the world embraces new technologies, it is essential that India and the United States join hands in this initiative from the very beginning.” This is expected to ensure the long-term technology transfer that India needs to enhance its AI capabilities.
On Saturday alone, Ambassador Gore met Indian Governor Sanjay Malhotra and said that the two countries should increase cooperation in the technology sector. Judging by the posts on social media, he is also meeting Indian technology entrepreneurs including Tata Companies Chairman N Chandrasekaran.
Gore, who is currently in Kolkata, is showing special activity in involving India in the PAX Silica initiative. Taiwan, the European Union, Canada, the Netherlands and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are included as guests in this.
What is PAX Silica?
According to Ambassador Gore, PAX Silica is a US initiative to ensure a secure, prosperous and innovative ‘silicon’ supply chain for the development and management of critical minerals, from energy resources to advanced technology products, semiconductors and AI.
It is primarily an economic strategy to secure the supply chain of semiconductors, AI and critical minerals. It has been put forward with the aim of reducing dependence on China for technology and critical minerals. The initiative, which was launched in December 2025, aims to encourage sustainable investment in establishing new chip manufacturing factories (fabs) and processing centers in various countries.
US Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg, who arrived in Jerusalem on Friday to sign a joint declaration between Israel and the US under the PAX Silica framework, stated that the countries that create technologies useful for modern life will lead the current era.
‘In the 21st century, the strength of any country is measured not by territory or population, but by technology and secure supply chains,’ he said. ‘AI, space, semiconductors, robotics, materials science and renewable energy are the foundations of national strength and the new pillars of peace.’
After the signing, Erez Eskel, head of Israel’s National AI Directorate, said that Israel’s advanced technology and startup sector will further help the United States play a leading role in the latest technology and supply chains in the Pax Silica initiative. ‘The world will be safer when the United States leads the world in technology,’ he said. ‘Just as America is indispensable to Israel, Israel is also crucial to the United States and its national security interests.’ He described the partnership as the beginning of a new era of technology and security.
Journalist Indranil Ghosh mentioned in Rest of the World that the word ‘Pax Silica’ is a combination of the Latin word ‘Pax Romana’, which refers to the golden age of the Roman Empire, and ‘silica’, which is used to make computer chips. The participating countries are interpreting this initiative not only as a diplomatic agreement but also as a roadmap for economic and industrial investment. The Indian side has analyzed that there is a strong reason behind the US trying to include India in this group.
A video by the media portal ‘Mint’ states that 20 percent of the world’s chip designers are Indian and that India is trying to include India in Pax Silica because it has reserves of rare minerals. Under this initiative, Microsoft has also committed to investing 17.5 billion US dollars to build data centers in India. Amazon has announced 35 billion dollars, Google 15 billion, Apple and Nvidia have also announced investments in India.
The member countries that have joined this group have agreed to increase investment in each other’s technology factories and infrastructure and to protect raw materials. The initiative, which has caused a stir in the investment sector, aims to encourage foreign investment, especially in chips and mineral processing. The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s “economic statecraft,” writes Jarrett Raines in Reuters. Shortly after launching the Pax Silica initiative, Trump issued an executive order to loosen regulations on AI companies. (With the agency’s help)
