India Joins Global AI Partnership as Pax Silica Expands International Technology and Supply Chain Alliance
Washington D.C., June 27, 2026: India has strengthened its position in the emerging global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem by joining nearly three dozen countries in endorsing a new international framework aimed at promoting secure, innovation-driven AI development and resilient technology supply chains under the Pax Silica initiative.
Launched by Jacob Helberg, the United States Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, in December 2025, Pax Silica has emerged as the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international economic security initiative. The partnership seeks to build trusted global supply chains across critical sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, energy inputs and digital infrastructure.
AI Opportunity Statement Signed by Nearly Three Dozen Countries
One of the key outcomes of the 2026 Pax Silica Summit was the signing of the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity, which outlines a shared commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring secure AI supply chains.
The declaration promotes a pro-growth, pro-innovation regulatory framework designed to support startups, developers, entrepreneurs and private industry, while strengthening cooperation among trusted economies in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
Countries that have signed the AI Opportunity Statement include:
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Denmark
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
The agreement reflects growing international consensus that collaboration among trusted partners will be essential to secure the AI value chain while encouraging technological innovation.
Pax Silica Membership Continues to Expand
The summit also witnessed a significant expansion of the Pax Silica partnership, with ten new participants signing the Pax Silica Declaration.
The latest members include Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the European Union, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Panama.
Following these additions, the initiative now comprises 24 formal signatories, including Australia, Finland, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Taiwan has also endorsed the principles of the declaration through a separate joint statement on U.S.-Taiwan economic security cooperation.
According to the U.S. State Department, Pax Silica is intended to be a “positive-sum partnership” designed to strengthen economic resilience and competitiveness rather than exclude global participation.
AI Supply Chain Pilot to Begin in Panama
Another major announcement at the summit was the launch of a proposed Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project in Panama.
The U.S. Department of State plans to issue a competitive funding opportunity to develop an AI-powered supply chain credentialing and provenance platform that will help verify and accelerate shipments of:
- Semiconductors
- AI computing infrastructure
- Critical minerals
- High-value technology products
The platform is expected to integrate with existing customs systems, port operators and logistics providers, allowing trusted shipments to move more efficiently through international trade routes.
Panama has been selected for the pilot implementation due to its strategic importance in global maritime trade. If successful, the system could later be expanded across other Pax Silica partner economies.
United States and Stanford University Launch Foundry School
In a move aimed at developing the next generation of industrial and technology leaders, the United States announced the launch of the Foundry School, a workforce development initiative created in partnership with Stanford University.
The programme will begin with a seminar series bringing together founders, chief executives and experts in advanced manufacturing to share lessons from globally successful industrial enterprises.
In addition, Stanford University and the U.S. Department of State will jointly develop an advanced manufacturing curriculum that educational institutions across Pax Silica member economies will be able to adopt.
The initiative seeks to establish advanced manufacturing as a recognised academic discipline while preparing engineers, policymakers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge required to strengthen national industrial capabilities.
Strategic Significance for India
India’s participation in the Pax Silica initiative aligns with its broader ambitions of becoming a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, electronics production and digital infrastructure.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing technology economies, India’s involvement provides opportunities to deepen collaboration with leading innovation-driven nations while strengthening trusted supply chains for critical technologies.
The partnership also complements India’s ongoing initiatives such as Digital India, Make in India, the IndiaAI Mission, and the national semiconductor programme, which aim to position the country as a major player in the global technology ecosystem.
With AI increasingly becoming central to economic competitiveness and national security, the expansion of Pax Silica marks another step towards building resilient international partnerships focused on secure technology development, trusted supply chains and advanced industrial cooperation.
— IBG NEWS
