India Joins U.S.-Led Technology Initiative Amid Strengthening Ties
NEW DELHI (AP) — In a significant diplomatic shift, India has allied itself with a U.S.-initiated operation aimed at bolstering technological cooperation among strategic partners.
This announcement, made on Friday, is emblematic of the increasingly amicable relations between the two nations, particularly following a period of tension regarding India’s ongoing acquisition of discounted Russian crude oil.
This decision positions India in close alignment with U.S. endeavors to establish secure supply chains concerning semiconductors, sophisticated manufacturing, and critical technological resources, at a time when competition with China is intensifying.
The move serves as a pivotal reset, ameliorating previously fraught relations stemming from disputes over energy trade and tariffs.
The Pax Silica framework, which India is now a part of, also includes other technologically advanced nations, such as Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
“Pax Silica will consist of nations that advocate for technology as a conduit for empowering free societies and unencumbered markets. India’s accession to Pax Silica is far more than mere symbolism; it is strategic and indispensable,” stated U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor in remarks delivered prior to the agreement signing.
Designed to enhance collaboration among allied nations in areas such as semiconductor design, manufacturing, research, and the fortification of supply chain resilience, Pax Silica aims to diminish reliance on Chinese manufacturing centers. Concurrently, it seeks to foster trusted production networks among democracies and strategic allies.
This noteworthy development, announced at an artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi, follows an interim trade framework forged between India and the U.S., aimed at lowering tariffs and facilitating increased market access. This alleviation of tensions was crucial in maintaining bilateral momentum.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump declared a reduction in reciprocal import tariffs on India from 25 percent to 18 percent, alongside the removal of an additional 25 percent levy previously enforced for Russian crude purchases, a move that came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to curtail such imports.
India significantly amplified its purchases of Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which invited scrutiny from Western allies. However, New Delhi has ardently defended these acquisitions as vital for inflation management and consumer protection.
The inclusion of India in Pax Silica, paired with favorable trade negotiations, signifies a strategic alignment that transcends mere commerce and extends into durable technology and security collaborations, thereby solidifying India’s prominence as a crucial U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific region.
“From the trade agreement to Pax Silica and defense partnerships, the possibilities for collaboration between our nations are indeed boundless,” Ambassador Gor concluded.
India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, flanked by U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor to his right and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, to his left, poses for a photograph with other officials after signing an agreement in New Delhi, India, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
Source link: Newstribune.com.
