India and Pax Silica: Aligning with a New Global Technology Security Framework

Why in News ?

India is likely to be invited to join the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, a multilateral framework aimed at securing global supply chains of semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and critical minerals.

The development reflects growing international efforts to reduce strategic vulnerabilities arising from over-concentration of key technology inputs and to build resilient, trusted, and diversified technology ecosystems. India’s potential participation marks a significant step in its integration into emerging global technology governance structures.

Background: Understanding Pax Silica

Pax Silica is a multilateral initiative launched by the United States in December 2025 to promote a stable, secure, and cooperative global technology order.

• The term “Pax” signifies peace and stability.
• “Silica” symbolises silicon-based semiconductor technologies, which underpin modern digital economies.

The Pax Silica Declaration outlines three core objectives:

1. Reducing coercive economic dependencies,
2. Ensuring secure global technology and AI supply chains, and
3. Building trusted digital infrastructure.

The initiative reflects concerns that excessive reliance on a single country for critical technologies exposes economies to geopolitical coercion, supply shocks, and strategic vulnerability.

Global Context Behind Pax Silica

The contemporary global economy is increasingly shaped by:

• Semiconductors,
• Artificial intelligence,
• Digital infrastructure, and
• Rare earth elements (REEs).

These technologies now form the backbone of economic growth, military capability, and national security. However, supply chains for critical minerals and advanced manufacturing remain highly concentrated, particularly:

• China’s dominance in rare earth mining, processing, and magnet production.
• China’s use of export controls and restrictions during geopolitical disputes, including tariff tensions with the United States.
• India has also experienced disruptions in rare-earth magnet supplies, affecting its automobile and electronics sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the fragility of global supply chains, accelerating efforts by major economies to pursue diversification, resilience, and strategic autonomy in critical technology sectors.

Key Members of Pax Silica

Pax Silica brings together technologically advanced and resource-rich countries, combining manufacturing capacity, mineral resources, financial capital, and innovation ecosystems.

Core Participants

• United States & Japan: Technology leadership and innovation.
• Netherlands: Advanced lithography technologies.
• South Korea: Memory chip manufacturing and semiconductor fabrication.
• Singapore: Semiconductor fabrication and logistics hubs.
• Australia: Major exporter of lithium and rare earth elements.
• Israel: AI software, defence technologies, and cybersecurity.
• United Kingdom: One of the world’s largest AI markets.
• Qatar & UAE: Financial strength via sovereign wealth funds.

Observers

• Canada, European Union, OECD, and Taiwan currently participate as observers, indicating broad international interest.

India’s Strategic Relevance

India is not yet a formal member but is expected to be invited soon due to its growing strategic and technological importance.

Key Strengths of India

• One of the world’s most robust digital public infrastructures (e.g., Aadhaar, UPI).
• A rapidly expanding AI market and large pool of skilled technology professionals.
• Government initiatives such as:
  • The India Semiconductor Mission, and
  • National AI strategies backed by substantial public investment.
• Major investments by:
  • Indian firms like the Tata Group, and
  • Global companies such as Micron, signalling confidence in India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
• The return of skilled Indian professionals trained abroad strengthens domestic innovation capacity.

Together, these factors position India as a credible and valuable partner in Pax Silica-aligned technology ecosystems.

Existing Supply Chain Initiatives Involving India

India has already taken concrete steps to enhance supply chain resilience through multilateral partnerships:

• Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (2021) with Australia and Japan.
• Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at securing emerging technology supply chains.
• Bilateral and multilateral collaborations with:
  • Japan, Singapore, and Israel in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.

These engagements demonstrate India’s alignment with the broader objectives of Pax Silica and its readiness for deeper integration.

Challenges for India in Joining Pax Silica

Despite strategic advantages, India’s potential membership raises several challenges:

1. Strategic Positioning

• Pax Silica members are largely high-income U.S. allies.
• India would be the first major developing country and non-ally strategic partner, potentially creating expectation gaps in policy alignment and strategic commitments.

2. Strategic Autonomy

• India traditionally prioritises strategic autonomy and may resist frameworks that constrain independent foreign or economic policy choices.

3. Industrial Policy Constraints

• India seeks to protect and nurture its nascent semiconductor and AI industries through:
  • Subsidies,
  • Procurement preferences,
  • Calibrated import controls.
• These policies may not fully align with the prevailing U.S. policy environment, which often emphasises open markets and competition.

Balancing domestic industrial development with international commitments will therefore be a key challenge.

Strategic Implications and the Road Ahead

The emergence of Pax Silica signals the likely formation of two parallel global technology supply chains:

• One centred around China, and
• Another anchored by Pax Silica countries.

Given India’s:

• Long-standing technological collaboration with Western economies, and
• Recent supply disruptions from China,

Aligning with Pax Silica appears strategically advantageous. However, India is expected to proceed cautiously, engaging in sustained dialogue to ensure that participation:

• Strengthens domestic technological and industrial capabilities,
• Enhances supply chain resilience, and
• Does not compromise strategic autonomy or developmental priorities.

India’s eventual approach is likely to combine selective alignment with continued policy independence, reflecting its broader foreign policy doctrine.