India Joins US-Led Pax Silica Alliance

India officially joined the United States-led strategic alliance 'Pax Silica' on February 20, 2026, at a ceremony in New Delhi during the AI Impact Summit. The alliance, launched in December 2025, aims to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI), from raw materials to semiconductors and AI infrastructure. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, US envoy to India Sergio Gor, and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg were present at the signing. India's inclusion, following an invitation from the United States, is seen as a strategic move to counter China's dominance in critical minerals and manufacturing supply chains. The alliance's founding members include Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, with the European Union, Canada, and Taiwan also participating. This development follows recent efforts to solidify bilateral ties between India and the United States, including a trade deal announced on February 2, 2026, where the United States agreed to cut tariffs on Indian imports and India committed to reducing barriers on US goods.