Archive · 3 Jan 2026
India Excluded from US-Led Tech and Minerals Initiative
The US and eight other countries have started a new group called Pax Silica.
This group wants to make sure they have enough important things like minerals, energy, computer chips, and artificial intelligence.
India is not part of this group.
The reason is that India hasn't focused much on these important areas for a long time.
India spends very little money on research and development compared to other countries.
It also imports a lot of minerals and energy instead of producing them itself.
The article says India needs to do more to be important in world politics.
It can either become better at making these important things or open its market to other countries.
But changing these things is hard, so India might stay cautious for now.
US-led Pax Silica initiative aims to secure supply chains in critical minerals, energy, semiconductors, and AI.
India is excluded from the initiative, which includes nine member countries and two guest countries.
India's low spending on R&D (0.6-0.7% of GDP) and high dependence on imports for minerals and energy contribute to its exclusion.
India has explored only 25-30% of its geological potential for minerals.
India's potential as an economic and political counterweight to China is recognized, but it needs to focus on actual delivery to be relevant in current geopolitics.
- Who
- US and eight other countries
- What
- Launch of Pax Silica initiative to secure supply chains in critical minerals, energy, semiconductors, and AI
- When
- Recent announcement
- Where
- Global, with focus on member countries
- Why
- To counter China's influence and secure critical supply chains
- Initiative Name
- Pax Silica
- Member Countries
- US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UK, Netherlands, Israel, UAE, Australia
- Guest Countries
- Canada, Taiwan
- India's R&D Spending
- 0.6-0.7% of GDP
- US R&D Spending
- 3% of GDP
- China R&D Spending
- 2.5% of GDP
- South Korea/Israel R&D Spending
- 5% of GDP
- India's Mineral Exploration
- 25-30% of potential
- India's Oil Import Dependence
- 90%
- India's Gold Import Dependence
- 99.9%
- India's Copper Ore Import Dependence
- 95%
- India's Mining Contribution to GDP
- 2%