India Joins Pax Silica Initiative

Context

India has become part of the U.S.-anchored Pax Silica framework, strengthening international cooperation to secure and diversify supply chains related to advanced electronics, artificial intelligence and strategic minerals.

Overview of the Pax Silica Framework

• Nature of the initiative: Pax Silica is a multilateral strategic platform steered by the United States Department of State, aimed at building reliable, secure and trusted global value chains in semiconductors, critical minerals, electronics and frontier technologies.
• Genesis: The framework emerged amid global concerns over fragile supply chains, excessive dependence on limited suppliers and the strategic concentration of rare-earth processing capacities.
• Launch milestone: The first high-level Pax Silica dialogue was convened in Washington D.C. in December 2025.
• Core objective: To promote diversification and resilience in technology-linked supply chains, deepen cooperation among like-minded economies and mitigate risks arising from coercive trade practices and monopolistic control.

Membership Profile

• Core partners: Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, UAE, United Kingdom and India.
• Engaged stakeholders: Canada, European Union, Netherlands, OECD and Taiwan (participating without formal signatory status).

Salient Pillars

• Resilient supply networks: Encourages geographic diversification of electronics and mineral supply chains to reduce systemic vulnerabilities.
• Advanced technology synergy: Facilitates collaboration in AI development, semiconductor design, data ecosystems and next-generation manufacturing.
• Strategic minerals cooperation: Strengthens coordination in extraction, processing and refining of rare-earth and other critical minerals vital for future industries.
• Capital and infrastructure linkages: Promotes joint investments, financial incentives and infrastructure support for trusted industrial ecosystems.
• Secure innovation environment: Fosters partnerships among governments, private enterprises and innovators to ensure reliability and security of technology stacks.
• Rules-based market approach: Seeks to counter non-market distortions, unfair trade practices and safeguard sensitive technologies and infrastructure.
• Industry-driven momentum: Leverages private-sector expertise and entrepreneurship to scale innovation and reinforce economic security.
• Long-term strategic convergence: Aims to align partner countries on technology governance norms and a stable, resilient global economic order.

Source : INDIA TODAY