India Enhances Technology Ties with U.S. in Strategic Initiative
NEW DELHI — In a significant diplomatic maneuver on Friday, India embraced a United States-led initiative aimed at bolstering technological collaboration among strategic allies.
This development not only highlights the strengthening of bilateral relations but also serves as a response to recent tensions regarding New Delhi’s persistent acquisition of discounted Russian oil.
This strategic decision positions India in alignment with Washington’s objectives, aimed at securing supply chains encompassing semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and critical technologies—especially relevant in an era of escalating geopolitical rivalry with China.
Furthermore, it signals a potential thaw in relations following friction surrounding energy trade and tariffs.
Countries participating in the Pax Silica framework include Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Israel, reflecting a coalition of nations committed to resilience in technology.
“Pax Silica embodies a coalition of nations that advocate for technology as a means to empower free peoples and markets. India’s inclusion in Pax Silica is not merely symbolic; it is strategic and essential,” U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor articulated during remarks leading up to the signing of the agreement.
The Pax Silica initiative focuses on enhancing cooperation regarding semiconductor design, fabrication, research, and bolstering supply chain resilience.
The objective is to mitigate reliance on China-controlled manufacturing centers while fostering trusted production networks among democracies and allied nations.
This development, unveiled at the recent artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi, follows closely on the heels of an interim trade framework established between India and the U.S., which aims to lower tariffs and enhance market access for both nations, alleviating tensions that jeopardized the momentum of bilateral relations.
Previously, President Donald Trump disclosed plans earlier this month to reduce reciprocal import tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%.
Additionally, he announced the lifting of an earlier 25% levy on imports of Russian crude following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to curtail such purchases.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India significantly increased its imports of Russian oil, a move that drew ire from Western allies, though New Delhi defended this course of action as a necessary measure to combat inflation and safeguard its populace.
The accession of India into Pax Silica, paired with recent trade concessions, signifies a strategic alignment that transcends mere commerce, delving into long-term technological and security cooperation, thereby bolstering India’s stature as a crucial partner for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The scope for collaboration between our two nations, from trade agreements to Pax Silica and defense cooperation, is genuinely limitless,” Gor concluded.
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