25 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a series of high-level discussions in New York focusing on critical minerals, the US-led Pax Silica initiative, Russia-related sanctions and energy security as New Delhi and Washington continue to navigate a complex strategic relationship.
The discussions come during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, with supply-chain resilience, technology cooperation and the impact of new US sanctions on Russian energy buyers emerging as important issues for India.
Talks With Jacob Helberg on Critical Minerals
Misri’s discussions with Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, included cooperation in critical minerals and technology-related supply chains.
Pax Silica is a US-led initiative focused on securing supply chains covering critical minerals, semiconductors, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. India formally joined the coalition in February 2026 during the India AI Impact Summit.
Critical minerals have become increasingly important because they are essential for semiconductors, batteries, renewable-energy equipment, advanced manufacturing and other strategic technologies.
India’s Role in Pax Silica
India’s participation in Pax Silica gives New Delhi another platform for cooperation with the US and other partner economies on technology and supply-chain security.
The US State Department describes Pax Silica as an effort to strengthen economic security through trusted technology partnerships and reduce strategic dependencies.
The initiative’s areas of focus include critical minerals, energy, semiconductors, AI and advanced manufacturing.
Russia Sanctions Bill Also in Focus
Another major issue surrounding Misri’s New York engagements is the recently enacted Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.
The legislation gives US President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. India is currently among the countries that could fall within the scope of the legislation based on import volumes.
India has expressed concerns about the possible impact of the law on its trade and economic interests.
India Emphasises Energy Security
New Delhi has repeatedly stressed that its energy purchases are guided by national interest and the need to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion people.
The government has also emphasised diversified sourcing and changing market conditions while responding to pressure over purchases of Russian energy.
The issue has become more significant amid volatility in global energy markets and continuing geopolitical tensions.
Possible Discussions With Allison Hooker
Misri’s engagements also come as India and the US continue discussions at senior levels on the wider bilateral relationship.
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker is another key American official involved in discussions concerning foreign-policy and regional issues. Indian and US officials have been addressing the implications of the Russia sanctions framework alongside broader strategic concerns.
Pax Silica and Strategic Technology
For India, Pax Silica has significance beyond minerals.
The initiative covers several parts of the emerging technology ecosystem, including semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. India’s participation could therefore support efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities while expanding cooperation with trusted international partners.
The US has positioned Pax Silica as a mechanism for coordinating investment and supply-chain development among participating economies.
Energy Security Gains Greater Importance
Energy has increasingly become part of discussions around technology and supply-chain security.
US officials have argued that reliable energy infrastructure is essential for modern manufacturing and AI-related investment. A proposal discussed earlier in 2026 involved a potential investment consortium focused on energy and critical-mineral supply chains under the wider Pax Silica framework.
For India, however, energy security also remains closely tied to affordable and reliable supplies for its large domestic economy.
A Broader India-US Strategic Conversation
Misri’s meetings reflect the expanding scope of India-US engagement.
The relationship now covers traditional areas such as defence and diplomacy alongside AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, energy, supply chains and economic security.
At the same time, differences over Russia and India’s continued energy purchases demonstrate the challenges involved in aligning the two countries’ interests.
Balancing Strategic Cooperation and National Interests
India’s participation in Pax Silica and its engagement with US officials do not remove the need for New Delhi to protect its own economic and energy priorities.
The latest talks indicate that both sides are attempting to maintain cooperation on emerging technologies and supply-chain resilience while discussing disagreements over sanctions and energy procurement.
New York Talks Come at a Critical Moment
With global supply chains facing geopolitical pressures and Washington expanding its sanctions and tariff tools, Misri’s discussions in New York carry significance for India’s economic and strategic planning.