0.1 Context and Rationale of Pax Silica

0.1.1 The global economy is witnessing continuities and shifts, with semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming central to economic power.
0.1.2 The North–South divide persists, but control over critical technologies now shapes global influence.
0.1.3 There is growing urgency to secure the supply of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and related manufacturing processes.
0.1.4 The Pax Silica initiative seeks to promote peace and prosperity through secure technology supply chains.

0.2 Launch and Objectives of Pax Silica

0.2.1 On December 12, 2025, the United States convened the inaugural Pax Silica Summit.
0.2.2 The initiative focuses on securing critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and logistics capabilities.
0.2.3 Pax Silica aims to reduce coercive dependencies in global supply chains.
0.2.4 It seeks to secure global tech and AI supply chains.
0.2.5 Another objective is building trusted digital infrastructure.

0.3 Geopolitical Background

0.3.1 Pax Silica is a response to new geopolitical realities.
0.3.2 China has emerged as a principal supplier of REEs.
0.3.3 China has acquired the capability to shape global resource flows.
0.3.4 Recent years have seen restrictions on critical resource exports by China for political and economic ends.
0.3.5 These developments have heightened concerns over supply chain vulnerability.

0.4 Major Participants and Their Strengths

0.4.1 The membership of Pax Silica is evolving.
0.4.2 The U.S. and Japan are leading technological powerhouses.
0.4.3 Australia is a major exporter of lithium and holds significant REE deposits.
0.4.4 The Netherlands hosts ASML, critical for advanced lithography technology.
0.4.5 South Korea is a leader in memory chip manufacturing.
0.4.6 Singapore has a long history of chip manufacturing collaboration.
0.4.7 Israel has advanced capabilities in AI software, defence technologies, and cybersecurity.
0.4.8 The United Kingdom has the third-largest AI market with a strong innovation ecosystem.
0.4.9 Qatar and the UAE command large investment funds and are developing AI ecosystems.

0.5 India’s Engagement So Far

0.5.1 India complied with China’s stringent licensing regulations on rare-earth imports.
0.5.2 Indian firms provided undertakings that imported rare-earth magnets would not be used for defence or dual-use purposes.
0.5.3 The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks of over-dependence on single-country supply chains.
0.5.4 In 2021, India launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative with Australia and Japan.
0.5.5 India worked with Quad countries to strengthen resilience in critical and emerging technologies.
0.5.6 The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative was launched in 2025.

0.6 India and the Pax Silica Process

0.6.1 Despite participation in related initiatives, India was not invited to the inaugural Pax Silica meeting.
0.6.2 On January 12, the U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, stated that India would soon be invited to join Pax Silica.
0.6.3 Canada, the EU, OECD, and Taiwan participated initially as observers.

0.7 What India Brings to Pax Silica

0.7.1 India has a strong digital infrastructure.
0.7.2 India’s AI market is growing rapidly, with widespread enterprise adoption.
0.7.3 India has launched AI and Semiconductor Missions with significant financial allocations.
0.7.4 Indian private firms have invested in the semiconductor segment, including investments in the U.S.
0.7.5 Global semiconductor firms such as Micron have invested in India.