India Joins Pax Silica: US Alliance Counters China’s Rare Earth Dominance

India has formally signed the Pax Silica Agreement with the United States at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, joining a strategic coalition aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains. The move marks a dramatic shift — from being excluded during the original December 2025 signing at the peak of the Trump trade freeze, to now becoming a key player at the table. With China controlling nearly 70% of rare earth mining and about 90% of global processing capacity, Beijing’s export curbs in 2025 exposed vulnerabilities in India’s auto, electronics and manufacturing sectors. Pax Silica is designed to reduce dependency, diversify sourcing, and counter mineral coercion. Featuring remarks from U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor, U.S. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, this report breaks down the geopolitics, economic stakes and why rare earths are the new oil in a fractured global order.