New Delhi: The United States has invited India to join its new strategic initiative, PaxSilica, as a full member next month, US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor announced on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Gor said, "I am pleased to announce that India will be invited to join PaxSilica as a full member next month..." He added, "...I also want to share with you today a new initiative that the United States launched just last month called PaxSilica. PaxSilica is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI development, and logistics. Nations that joined last month include Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Israel. Today, I am pleased to announce that India will be invited to join this group of nations as a full member next month."

Gor, 38, who is considered a key member of President Donald Trump’s inner circle, was sworn in as the US envoy to India in mid-November. Upon his arrival in New Delhi on Friday night, he tweeted, "Great to be back in India! Incredible opportunities ahead for our two nations!"

The announcement comes amid strained India-US ties following a dispute over a proposed trade deal last year. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had claimed that the deal could not be finalised because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Trump, a claim New Delhi rejected as "inaccurate."

Before his posting in India, Gor served as the White House personnel director. His tenure as ambassador begins at a time when bilateral relations have been affected by trade tensions, including Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent and imposing a 25 per cent additional duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

Relations have also seen friction over immigration policies and the US President's claims of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict in May last year.

The PaxSilica initiative is expected to deepen cooperation between India and the US in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, and logistics, marking a major step in strategic economic collaboration.