The United States reaffirmed India’s importance as a strategic partner in supply chain security and advanced technologies, despite India’s absence from the inaugural Pax Silica Summit.
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States has emphasized that India continues to be a vital strategic partner in the areas of supply chain security and advanced technologies, even though New Delhi did not participate in the inaugural Pax Silica Summit. This new U.S.-led initiative aims to secure the global silicon and semiconductor supply chain.
During a recent news conference organized by the Foreign Press Centre, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg addressed speculation surrounding India’s absence from the summit. He stated that the conjecture linking India’s non-participation to political tensions with Washington was misplaced and incorrect.
Helberg clarified, “My understanding is that there was a lot of speculation behind India not participating in the Pax Silica Summit. I want to be clear that the conversations between the United States and India pertaining to trade arrangements are a completely separate and parallel track to our discussions on supply chain security. We are not conflating those two things.”
He further highlighted that the U.S. views India as a highly strategic potential partner in efforts related to supply chain security and expressed a desire to engage with India on these matters.
The Pax Silica initiative, launched last week, includes an initial group of countries that are closely linked to semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology supply chains. This group comprises Singapore, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The framework aims to reduce vulnerabilities in global supply chains that support various industries, including smartphones, automobiles, and artificial intelligence.
On the subject of India, Helberg underscored that engagement with New Delhi is ongoing and active. He noted that he is in nearly daily communication with officials in Delhi and mentioned that Washington is actively exploring ways to deepen collaboration swiftly.
Helberg also pointed to an upcoming opportunity for high-level engagement, revealing that he will attend the ‘India AI Impact Summit’ in February. He indicated that the U.S. plans to significantly enhance bilateral collaboration with India on economic security issues and suggested that Indian participation in future Pax Silica-related efforts remains a distinct possibility.
Earlier in the briefing, Helberg explained that the initial group of Pax Silica countries was intentionally limited to those forming the core of semiconductor manufacturing, such as Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Netherlands, before potentially expanding to include areas like critical minerals.
This ongoing dialogue reflects the United States’ commitment to strengthening its partnership with India, particularly in the context of global supply chain security and technological advancements, as both nations navigate the complexities of international trade and economic cooperation.
According to IANS, the U.S. remains optimistic about India’s future involvement in initiatives like Pax Silica, reinforcing the notion that collaboration between the two countries is both necessary and beneficial.