Italy is preparing to join Pax Silica, the US-led initiative designed to lock in allied supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and critical minerals, even as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Donald Trump work through a stretch of visible tension.
What Pax Silica actually is
The US State Department launched the initiative in late 2025, bringing together the US, Japan, South Korea, and several European nations as founding participants. The core goal is straightforward: reduce collective dependence on China for the materials and manufacturing capacity that underpin advanced technology.
The European Union formally committed to joining the initiative in early June 2026, with Germany and the Netherlands providing key support. France had shown earlier reluctance, a reminder that even within allied blocs, these conversations involve real negotiation rather than rubber-stamping.
Italy’s path to membership
