Pax Silica is emerging as one of the most important US-led technology initiatives shaping the future of artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains. With India set to be invited to join, the bloc reflects a growing effort to align trusted partners around critical technologies that underpin economic growth, national security, and geopolitical influence in the AI era.
The announcement was made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on January 12, signalling a deeper phase of India–US cooperation in emerging technologies. As global competition increasingly centres on chips, data, and computing infrastructure, Pax Silica represents Washington’s attempt to move from fragmented coordination to a structured, alliance-based approach to technology security.
Pax Silica is a flagship initiative of the US State Department focused on securing supply chains for AI and semiconductors. The name itself is symbolic. “Silica” refers to silicon, the foundation of modern computing, while “pax” reflects a rules-based order built among trusted partners rather than dependence on a single dominant supplier.
At its core, Pax Silica aims to reduce strategic vulnerabilities in global technology supply chains. It seeks to prevent coercive leverage, protect sensitive AI and chip technologies from misuse or theft, and ensure that advanced computing infrastructure is developed within a trusted ecosystem of like-minded countries.
Unlike earlier chip alliances that focused narrowly on fabrication or export controls, Pax Silica adopts an end-to-end view of the technology ecosystem. It recognises that AI leadership depends not only on algorithms but also on physical infrastructure and resources that are often overlooked.
The initiative spans critical minerals and energy inputs needed for chipmaking, advanced manufacturing and high-end hardware, semiconductors and AI infrastructure, as well as compute capacity, data flows, logistics, and deployment. This reflects Washington’s growing concern that disruptions at any stage of the chain could undermine AI-driven growth.
The current grouping includes the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, and the UAE. Qatar has also been invited recently, highlighting US efforts to integrate the Middle East into a technology-centric economic framework and encourage cooperation between Israel and Gulf states.
This diverse composition underlines Pax Silica’s dual nature. It is partly an economic coordination platform and partly a geopolitical alignment among countries that host or enable critical nodes of the global chip and AI value chain, from advanced manufacturing to capital and energy.
India’s proposed entry into Pax Silica is strategically important for both sides. For the US, India offers scale, a rapidly growing technology talent pool, and long-term strategic depth in the Indo-Pacific. It also fits Washington’s broader goal of diversifying supply chains away from concentrated production geographies.
For India, Pax Silica aligns closely with its domestic ambitions. The country is pushing to build semiconductor fabrication capacity, strengthen advanced packaging, and expand its role in AI development and deployment. Membership would provide access to trusted technology networks, coordinated investments, and deeper integration with advanced manufacturing ecosystems.
According to the Pax Silica Declaration, AI-driven growth will sharply increase demand for energy, critical minerals, and computing hardware. If these resources remain concentrated or poorly governed, countries could face supply shocks, political pressure, or technology denial.
By coordinating standards, investments, and supply chain resilience across partner nations, Pax Silica aims to unlock economic potential while ensuring that advanced technologies remain secure and responsibly governed. In effect, it is an attempt to shape the rules of the AI economy before vulnerabilities become crises.
Pax Silica stands apart from initiatives like the Quad or ad hoc chip export controls because it focuses on systemic coordination rather than reactive measures. It looks beyond short-term restrictions and instead emphasises long-term capacity building, trusted infrastructure, and shared norms for AI and semiconductor development. This approach acknowledges that leadership in AI will depend as much on stable supply chains and reliable partners as on breakthrough research or commercial innovation.
India’s formal invitation is expected to open the door to deeper collaboration in semiconductor fabrication, advanced packaging, AI infrastructure, and supply chain resilience. Over time, Pax Silica could also influence global norms on trusted AI systems, data governance, and secure digital infrastructure.
For India, participation could accelerate domestic manufacturing goals while embedding the country more deeply in global technology governance. For the bloc, India adds scale, diversity, and long-term growth potential at a time when the AI economy is expanding rapidly.
As technology increasingly defines geopolitical power, Pax Silica represents a shift from fragmented cooperation to a more structured, alliance-driven model. It reflects a recognition that AI and semiconductors are no longer just economic assets but strategic resources that require collective stewardship.
With India poised to join, Pax Silica is set to become a central platform shaping how trusted nations build, secure, and govern the technologies that will define the next decade. For more in-depth coverage on AI policy, semiconductors, and global technology shifts, visit ainewstoday.org and stay ahead of the AI-powered world.
