India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition on the fifth day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, signalling a deeper alignment with the United States on critical technology and semiconductor supply chains. The move is being seen as a strategic step to secure the building blocks of the AI-driven global economy.
Announced at the Summit in New Delhi, the signing brought together senior leaders from both countries and reflected a shared resolve to safeguard what policymakers are calling the “silicon stack” — spanning critical minerals, semiconductor fabrication, advanced AI systems and deployment infrastructure.
A Coalition to Secure the Silicon Stack
Pax Silica is envisioned as a coalition of trusted nations working to reduce overdependence in global supply chains and prevent economic coercion. At its core, the initiative aims to ensure that emerging technologies are designed, manufactured and governed by open, democratic societies rather than concentrated in a few geographies.
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Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw described the moment as more than a diplomatic milestone. “We are not just holding a summit; we are building the future,” he said, stressing that the decisions taken today would shape opportunities for the next generation.
He pointed to India’s long-term growth trajectory since Independence, noting the power of sustained, compounding progress. India’s semiconductor capabilities, he added, are advancing rapidly. “Today, India’s talented engineers are designing the world’s most advanced two-nanometer chips,” Vaishnaw said, highlighting that the global semiconductor industry will require around one million new skilled professionals—a gap he believes India is well positioned to fill.
Economic Security as National Security
From the US side, Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, framed the declaration as a forward-looking partnership rather than a symbolic agreement.
“This is not merely an agreement on paper, but a roadmap for a shared future,” he said. Drawing on the democratic traditions of both countries, Helberg underscored the strategic stakes involved. “As we sign the Pax Silica declaration, we say no to weaponised dependency, and we say no to blackmail. Together, we affirm that economic security is national security.”
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He described Pax Silica as an effort to secure the full technology stack — from minerals extracted from the earth to silicon wafers in fabrication plants and the AI systems that will power future innovation. “The future belongs to those who build,” he added.
Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India, called India’s entry into the coalition both strategic and necessary. In his view, Pax Silica will help shape the economic and technological order of the 21st century by securing every layer of the silicon value chain, from mining to fabrication to AI deployment in data centres.
At its heart, he suggested, the initiative is about ensuring that free societies retain control over critical economic infrastructure. “We choose freedom. We choose a partnership. We choose strength,” he said.
AI Ambition Meets Semiconductor Resilience
Following the signing, a high-level fireside chat brought together S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT; Ambassador Sergio Gor; Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology; and Randhir Thakur, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Electronics.
The discussion focused on aligning India’s AI ambitions with semiconductor resilience and trusted supply chains. Krishnan emphasised the need for coordinated action across AI, semiconductors and critical minerals, noting that India’s strategy rests on collaboration with partners who share similar values and long-term goals.
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Ambassador Gor observed that the AI transformation is already reshaping industries and economies. “The AI revolution is not on the horizon — it is already here,” he said.
Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted the importance of resilient and secure supply chains, describing the partnership as a “shared commitment” and a “win-win ecosystem” that can advance AI responsibly. Randhir Thakur added that semiconductor progress has always been driven by materials science, innovation and computing power, calling Pax Silica a timely step in strengthening that ecosystem.
A Strategic Signal
India’s decision to join Pax Silica sends a clear signal about its intent to play a central role in shaping the future technology order. As AI systems grow more powerful and semiconductor supply chains become increasingly strategic, the alignment between New Delhi and Washington underscores a broader shift: technology policy is now inseparable from economic and national security.
