Jaishankar In US For Key Minerals Meet After Trade Deal, Pakistan Left Out

Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 12:09 IST

EAM Jaishankar is in the US for talks at the Critical Minerals Ministerial. The visit highlights India’s entry into Pax Silica, while Pakistan has not been invited.

File photo of EAM S Jaishankar (X/@DrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in the United States for a three-day visit centred on the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The meeting will focus on strengthening international cooperation to build reliable and resilient critical-mineral supply chains that underpin economic security, technological leadership and the energy transition.

The External Affairs Ministry, quoted by news agency PTI, said the ministerial will examine supply-chain resilience, clean-energy transitions and strategic collaboration in critical minerals.

Jaishankar is also expected to meet senior members of the US administration during the visit.

BILATERAL TALKS AMID RESET EFFORTS

The visit coincides with the newly announced India-US trade pact following a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

With the agreement on the trade deal, Trump agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

Following the announcement, Jaishankar publicly welcomed the deal, saying it would create jobs, spur growth, strengthen “Make in India" and deepen trusted-technology links.

PAX SILICA AND INDIA’S INDUCTION

A major strategic backdrop to the visit is the US-led Pax Silica framework, launched in December to secure silicon and semiconductor supply chains linked to artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

Media statements have described Pax Silica as a coalition aimed at reducing coercive dependencies and ensuring trusted nations retain access to critical technology inputs.

US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg had confirmed in January that India is set to formally join the initiative in February 2026, speaking at the Hudson Institute.

He said expanding the grouping into India was essential to cover the full spectrum of the AI supply chain, from minerals to infrastructure, and highlighted India’s software talent and emerging manufacturing base.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor had also posted that New Delhi would be invited into Pax Silica, calling the move critical for building a secure and innovation-driven silicon ecosystem.

PAKISTAN NOT PART OF THE INITIATIVE

Amid Indian attention to Washington’s outreach on critical minerals, US officials have sought to clarify that Pakistan is not part of Pax Silica.

In comments to Hindustan Times, Helberg had said the US valued its partnership with India and was excited about welcoming New Delhi into the framework, adding that Washington had “not to date had conversations about Pakistan joining Pax Silica".

He had also said that membership decisions were guided by companies and capabilities rather than politics.

Meanwhile, on the defence side, India-US ties continue to deepen. A January 27 meeting brought together a US Congressional delegation led by Mike Rogers, Ambassador Gor and India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh to advance defence-industry cooperation under a new long-term partnership framework.

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