New Delhi witnessed a powerful moment at the India AI Impact Summit as top US officials united with Indian leaders to sign the Pax Silica Declaration. US Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg delivered a stirring speech, drawing parallels between ancient history and modern geopolitics.
Helberg invoked Alexander the Great’s conquests, noting how India finally taught the Macedonian king the power of saying ‘no.’ ‘Our two nations were forged in that word,’ he declared. Both India and the US, he said, rejected distant rulers, dismissed civilized society’s counsel, and seized control of their destinies after centuries of colonial rule.
This spirit of defiance, Helberg argued, burns at the heart of both democracies. Yet today, it’s being reignited amid global economic vulnerabilities. Supply chains overly concentrated in one region expose friends to constant pressure and blackmail. We’ve seen a single keystroke from across borders dim the lights of a great Indian city, forcing choices between freedom and prosperity.
Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighted America’s AI dominance. Home to pioneering companies and hyperscalers, the US under President Trump scrapped restrictive export frameworks that sidelined partners like India. The new AI Action Plan rests on three pillars: innovation, infrastructure, and international partnerships.
America’s leading AI and chip firms boast market caps exceeding the entire FTSE 100. Four top companies plan to invest nearly $700 billion in AI infrastructure this year—three times the cost of landing on the moon. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor emphasized India’s strategic entry into Pax Silica. With vast engineering talent and growing mineral processing capacity, India provides essential capabilities for this vital coalition.
Policies strengthening US-India tech ties will fuel AI innovation for years. Together, they aim to share trustworthy AI technology with the world, prioritizing partners like India. The declaration marks not just symbolism, but a roadmap for a shared future in AI leadership.