A top US official has expressed great enthusiasm for inviting India to join the Pax Silica initiative, a US-led framework designed to secure the supply chains of critical minerals and advanced technology. The invitation signals a strong positive momentum in US-India relations, with Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg expected to sign an agreement with the Indian government soon.

Pax Silica aims to establish a secure and innovation-driven ecosystem for AI technology, encompassing everything from refining to manufacturing hi-tech components. The partnership focuses on critical minerals, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. The goal is to reduce reliance on vulnerable or coercive supply chains and protect foundational technologies.

Helberg highlighted India's growing strategic importance in global supply chains, noting that India is uniquely positioned to rival China in terms of scale and human capital. He stated that India is probably the only other country on Earth to be able to rival China with respect to the breadth and depth of the sheer volume of young, technically trained talent.

Responding to a question about India's initial absence from Pax Silica, Helberg clarified that it was not an oversight. He explained that the initiative was signed in December, and discussions regarding India's participation progressed rapidly afterward. By January, the US and India had already reached an understanding about India joining Pax Silica.

Helberg is scheduled to travel to India later this month to formalize the agreement with the Indian government, indicating deeper cooperation in the critical minerals sector. He described the US and India as two very large countries, noting that aligning on strategic goals can take time due to their scale. The US is the world's largest economy, while India is the world's most populous country with a young, rapidly growing economy.

India's inclusion in Pax Silica is seen as essential to securing the broader supply chain, as the country possesses large-scale mining and processing operations with significant potential to strengthen the global supply chain ecosystem. India's participation could also help reduce its overdependence on China for critical minerals, as the country currently imports nearly 80-90% of its magnets and related materials from China.

The US is pushing Pax Silica to support its strategic goals regarding Big Tech and to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. Both the US and China are keen to dominate the future of AI and shape global norms for AI and data management.