[Answered] Examine the Pax Silica declaration as the formalization of the India–US strategic technology bloc. Evaluate how the transition from bilateral initiatives like iCET to this cohesive framework secures India’s interests in the global semiconductor and AI landscape.

Introduction

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (2024), 75% of global chip fabrication capacity is concentrated in East Asia. Amid rising techno-nationalism, the 2026 Pax Silica declaration institutionalizes India–US strategic convergence in critical technologies.

Pax Silica: Institutionalising the Strategic Technology Bloc

1. From Bilateralism to Bloc Politics: The US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) (2023) laid the groundwork for cooperation in AI, quantum, semiconductors, and defense innovation. Pax Silica (2026) transforms these sectoral engagements into a structured techno-strategic coalition alongside the U.S., UK, Japan, and South Korea.
2. Securitisation of Technology: Drawing from the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act (2022) and export controls on sub-7nm chips to China, Pax Silica reflects the fusion of economic security with national security. Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs) are now viewed as dual-use assets shaping both GDP growth and military deterrence.
3. The ‘Silicon Stack’ Doctrine: Pax Silica conceptualizes the technology ecosystem end-to-end—from critical minerals to fabrication (fabs) to AI foundation models—creating a trusted supply-chain architecture.

Securing India’s Interests in the Semiconductor Landscape

1. Critical Minerals and Upstream Security: India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) and lithium discoveries in Jammu & Kashmir align with Pax Silica’s mineral resilience agenda. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that demand for lithium may grow 40-fold by 2040. Participation ensures diversified sourcing beyond Chinese refining dominance (60–70%).
2. Fab Integration and Manufacturing Ecosystem: Through the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and incentives worth $10 billion, India aims to build fabrication capacity. Pax Silica integrates these efforts into a trusted industrial base, linking Indian fabs with U.S. firms like Micron and Applied Materials. This reduces overdependence on the First Island Chain (Taiwan–South Korea belt) and enhances supply-chain redundancy—an imperative highlighted after COVID-19 disruptions.
3. Human Capital as Strategic Leverage: India contributes nearly 20% of the global semiconductor design workforce (SIA Report). Within Pax Silica, this transforms from service outsourcing to strategic leverage, embedding India into standard-setting and R&D ecosystems.

Commanding Heights of AI: Securing the Algorithmic Frontier

1. AI Governance and Standards Leadership: Pax Silica ensures India’s role as a rule-maker in AI safety norms, export controls, and trusted hardware protocols. This complements the IndiaAI Mission (2024) and aligns with OECD AI Principles.
2. Countering Digital Authoritarianism: The framework acts as a normative counterweight to China’s Pax Sinica model of state-led digital control. By anchoring AI in democratic governance, it safeguards open digital ecosystems.
3. Data and Compute Sovereignty: Access to advanced GPUs, cloud compute, and model training infrastructure prevents India from technological marginalisation. As compute power becomes national power, integration protects India’s AI competitiveness.

Strategic Geometry and Geopolitical Leverage

1. India’s continental positioning offers a secure anchor outside immediate Pacific flashpoints.
2. As QUAD cooperation deepens, Pax Silica complements Indo-Pacific strategy by embedding technology into strategic deterrence architecture.
3. This marks a philosophical shift: from non-alignment to multi-alignment with purpose. Economic interdependence is now viewed as a shield against coercive supply-chain weaponisation.

Risks and Strategic Autonomy Concerns

1. The ‘Silicon Curtain’ Risk: Bloc formation may intensify techno-bifurcation, compelling India into zero-sum alignment with China.
2. Vendor Lock-In and Atmanirbharta: Overdependence on U.S. intellectual property or equipment could limit indigenous innovation. Strategic autonomy requires parallel coalitions (EU, ASEAN) and domestic R&D investments (2.5% of GDP target).
3. Trade and Regulatory Adjustments: Aligning with U.S.-style export controls may constrain India’s traditional protectionist startup ecosystem, demanding calibrated regulatory reforms.

Conclusion

As President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam wrote in India 2020, technological self-reliance is the foundation of strategic sovereignty. Pax Silica must empower India’s rise, not substitute autonomy with alignment.