Escalating tension between the two countries yet again, the United States excluded India from its new initiative that includes all the major players in South East Asia.
Last week, the United States announced the formation of Pax Silica—a U.S.-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation driven silicon supply chain—from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and logistics.
The initiative was formally unveiled during a summit in Washington, D.C., where participating countries signed the Pax Silica Declaration to affirm cooperation on supply chains critical to AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and related infrastructure.
READ: Despite strong credentials, more Indians report sudden US visa refusals (
While the grouping included Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, alongside guest contributions from Taiwan, the European Union, Canada, and the OECD, it left India out of the league.
Representatives from these countries met at the inaugural summit to discuss joint efforts to strengthen supply chains spanning critical minerals, energy inputs, semiconductor production, data centers, and logistics networks.
Pax Silica aims to reduce dependencies on concentrated sources of critical materials and technology, such as China’s dominant position in rare earths and chip manufacturing, by promoting cooperation across allied nations. Participants seek to coordinate research and development, manufacturing, infrastructure investment, and joint ventures in strategic sectors essential for AI and future technologies.
The initiative also emphasizes building a trusted and secure technology ecosystem, protecting sensitive technologies and infrastructure, and fostering economic security in an era where AI and advanced computing are increasingly central to global economic competitiveness.
The launch of the Pax Silica initiative highlights the growing importance of securing supply chains and technological infrastructure in an era defined by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor-driven innovation. By bringing together leading technology and industrial nations, the initiative demonstrates a collective effort to reduce dependence on concentrated sources of critical materials, improve resilience, and foster stability across sectors vital to economic and technological development. Such collaboration emphasizes the value of shared expertise, coordinated investment, and strategic planning in addressing global challenges that affect multiple countries simultaneously.
The exclusion of certain countries from the initiative, such as India, underscores how strategic, economic, and geopolitical considerations shape participation in global technology partnerships. This may signal potential diplomatic or trade tensions, and countries outside the initiative may explore alternative strategies to secure resources and maintain competitiveness in key industries.
Excluding India from Pax Silica may limit the initiative’s access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing technology markets. India is home to a significant portion of the global software services industry, a rapidly expanding semiconductor ecosystem, and a large pool of skilled engineers and technology professionals. By not including India, Pax Silica may miss opportunities to leverage its human capital, innovation capabilities, and emerging technology startups, which could contribute to research and development efforts, AI deployment, and semiconductor innovation across the coalition.
READ: US revokes 85,000 visas amid stricter security, vetting measures (
Furthermore, India possesses substantial reserves of certain critical minerals and has growing capabilities in manufacturing and renewable energy, which are key to building resilient supply chains.
Exclusion from the initiative could prevent collaborative efforts to diversify sourcing of raw materials, reduce supply chain risks, and create a broader, more geographically balanced network. It may also limit the initiative’s influence in shaping global standards, technology governance, and trade norms in sectors where India is emerging as a significant player. In the long term, these gaps could reduce the overall effectiveness and reach of Pax Silica’s strategic goals.