India joins US-led ‘Pax Silica’ alliance

US Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, welcoming India to the coalition, flagged challenges arising out of ‘massively over-concentrated’ supply chains for critical minerals and threats of economic coercion and blackmail’

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

India Friday joined the US-led strategic alliance called ‘Pax Silica’ that aims to build a resilient supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence with both sides projecting it as an initiative to cut over-dependence on one country, seen as an oblique apparent reference to China.

US Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, welcoming India to the coalition, flagged challenges arising out of “massively over-concentrated” supply chains for critical minerals and “threats of economic coercion and blackmail”.

Though Helberg didn’t name any country, it was almost clear that his remarks were directed at China’s export controls on rare earth minerals and related products.

China has been controlling the flow of rare earth minerals which have a wide range of applications including in electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive, and defence sectors.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor, welcoming India to Pax-Silica, said the country brings strength to the coalition.