New Delhi: India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition on the fifth day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, marking a significant step in deepening strategic technology and supply chain cooperation with the United States. The signing ceremony brought together senior leaders from both countries and highlighted a shared commitment to securing the critical technology stack underpinning the AI-driven global economy.
Pax Silica is conceived as a coalition of trusted nations focused on safeguarding the “silicon stack” — spanning critical minerals, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced AI systems, and deployment infrastructure. The initiative seeks to address risks arising from overconcentration in global supply chains, curb economic coercion, and ensure that emerging technologies are developed and governed within open, democratic frameworks.
Addressing the gathering, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the development represented more than a ceremonial milestone. “We are not just holding a summit; we are building the future,” he remarked, emphasising the creation of new foundations and opportunities for younger generations, according to an official release.
Highlighting India’s long-term economic trajectory, Vaishnaw referred to the compounding effect of growth since Independence. “If we look at India’s growth since 1947, we can all imagine the impact of compounding,” Vaishnaw said. Pointing to India’s expanding semiconductor capabilities, he added, “Today, India’s talented engineers are designing the world’s most advanced two-nanometer chips. The semiconductor industry will require around one million new skilled professionals, and this is a very big opportunity for India.”
Jacob Helberg, United States Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, described the declaration as “not merely an agreement on paper, but a roadmap for a shared future.” Stressing the link between economic and national security, he stated, “As we sign the Pax Silica declaration, we say no to weaponized dependency and blackmail. Together, we affirm that economic security is national security.”
Helberg underscored the broader ambition of the initiative, saying, “We are securing the full stack of the future — the minerals deep in the earth, the silicon wafers in labs and fabs, and the intelligence that will unleash human potential. Pax Silica is our declaration that the future belongs to those who build.”
Echoing similar sentiments, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor termed India’s participation “strategic and essential.” He noted, “Pax Silica is the coalition designed to secure the entire silicon stack, from critical minerals to chip fabrication and frontier AI deployment.” Framing the initiative within a democratic context, Gor added, “It is about whether free societies will control the commanding heights of the global economy. We choose freedom, partnership, and strength.”
Following the signing, a high-level fireside chat featured S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); Sergio Gor; Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology; and Randhir Thakur, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Electronics.
Krishnan highlighted India’s coordinated strategy across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and critical minerals, stating that the goal is “resilient collaboration with trusted partners who share our values.” Ambassador Gor emphasised the immediacy of technological shifts, remarking, “The AI revolution is not on the horizon — it is already here.”
Mehrotra pointed to the importance of robust supply chains, describing Pax Silica as a “shared commitment to building resilient, secure supply chains” and fostering a “win-win ecosystem to advance AI for good.” Thakur described the coalition as “a timely and strategic step,” observing that the semiconductor industry’s evolution has consistently been driven by “materials, innovation, and compute.”
The signing at the Summit reinforced a central theme of the event: that the future of AI and advanced technologies will be shaped through deliberate partnerships aimed at resilience, openness, and democratic governance.
