Harshvardhan Mishra
The United States is preparing to invite India to join Pax Silica, a new US-led strategic alliance aimed at building a secure and trusted ecosystem for next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. The proposal was formally flagged during the recent India visit of Sergio Gor, who met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar amid ongoing trade and tariff negotiations.
At a time when technology supply chains are becoming as critical as energy routes once were, Pax Silica is being projected as a decisive geopolitical and economic initiative. Here is a clear, jargon-free explainer of what Pax Silica means, why it matters, and why India’s possible entry could be a turning point.
1. What exactly is Pax Silica?
The term Pax Silica draws from history. The word pax traditionally refers to an era of peace, stability, and shared prosperity, while silica is the raw compound refined into silicon — the backbone of computer chips, semiconductors, and AI hardware.
Put simply, Pax Silica is a US-led effort to create a stable and reliable global ecosystem for silicon-based technologies. The goal is to ensure that everything — from critical minerals to advanced chips — flows through trusted, resilient supply chains rather than being concentrated in a single country or region.
In the age of AI, whoever controls silicon supply chains controls the future of technology.
2. Why did the US launch Pax Silica?
A senior US official summed up the logic succinctly: if the 20th century ran on oil and steel, the 21st century runs on chips and the minerals that make them.
Today, critical minerals such as rare earth elements are essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles, defence systems, and AI infrastructure. Over the past decade, global supply chains have shown how vulnerable they are — pandemics, wars, and geopolitical tensions have disrupted everything from car manufacturing to consumer electronics.
China currently dominates the extraction, processing, and refining of many of these minerals. The US fears that over-dependence on a single supplier could allow supply chains to be weaponised during political or military crises. Pax Silica is Washington’s answer: an alliance of trusted partners to build an alternative, diversified ecosystem for the AI age.
3. Who are the members of Pax Silica?
The foundation of Pax Silica was laid at its inaugural summit in December 2025. The initial group of signatories includes technologically advanced and resource-rich nations such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar joined the alliance in January 2026.
India is not yet a formal member, but all signals suggest it is next in line. Shortly after Sergio Gor’s public invitation, the US administration reiterated that New Delhi would be brought “to the table” as the alliance moves from concept to execution. This underlines how central India has become to Washington’s long-term technology and economic strategy.
4. Why is Pax Silica strategically significant?
Pax Silica is not just another diplomatic grouping. The US describes it as an “economic security coalition built for the AI age.” Its ambition is far broader than mineral sourcing alone.
The alliance aims to cover the entire technology stack:
- mining and refining of critical minerals,
- logistics and transport networks,
- semiconductor fabrication and advanced manufacturing,
- software platforms, AI models, and computing infrastructure.
By spreading these capabilities across multiple trusted countries, Pax Silica seeks to reduce systemic risk and ensure continuity even during global crises. In essence, it is about future-proofing the digital economy — and redefining economic security as a core pillar of national security.
5. How can India benefit from joining Pax Silica?
India’s case for joining Pax Silica is particularly compelling. The country holds one of the world’s largest reserves of rare earth minerals, estimated at over eight million tonnes. Yet its actual production remains minimal, forcing heavy dependence on imports.
In recent years, India has sourced the overwhelming majority of its rare earth imports from China. When exports were briefly restricted, Indian automobile and electronics manufacturers faced shortages, production cuts, and rising costs. These episodes exposed a critical vulnerability in India’s industrial ecosystem.
Membership in Pax Silica could help India diversify its supply sources, especially through partnerships with mineral-rich countries like Australia and technology leaders such as Japan and the Netherlands. It could also accelerate investment, technology transfer, and expertise in advanced mining and refining — areas where India is still catching up despite its resource base.
Aligned with India’s own National Critical Mineral Mission, Pax Silica offers a pathway to reduce strategic dependence, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and position India as a key hub in the global AI and semiconductor value chain.
The bigger picture
Pax Silica represents a shift in how power is defined in the modern world — away from territory and towards technology, data, and supply chains. For the US, it is about securing leadership in the AI era. For India, it could be an opportunity to convert geological potential into technological and economic strength.
If India joins, Pax Silica may well mark a historic milestone in the US-India partnership — and a decisive step in reshaping the global technology order for decades to come.
