United States invites India into Pax Silica initiative

Key facts

• Pax Silica is a US-led initiative focused on securing AI and tech supply chains, aimed at bringing 'friendly and trusted' countries together to ensure that key technologies are safe, reliable, and not controlled by hostile play.
• The initiative was launched on December 12 to 'reduce coercive dependencies' and build a 'secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain'.
• India was initially left out of the initiative, which included countries such as Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, UAE and Australia.
• US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor announced that India will be invited to join Pax Silica as a full member next month.
• The initiative includes measures such as 'pursuing new joint ventures and strategic co-investment opportunities'.
• India stands to gain from likely investments and partnerships under the initiative, as it currently lacks global-scale AI infrastructure.
• US companies Microsoft and Google announced major AI infrastructure investments in India in December, with Microsoft planning to spend $17.5 billion and Google over $15 billion.