Kathmandu. New Delhi: India will be formally invited next month to participate in a new US-led international initiative aimed at securing artificial intelligence (AI) supply chains, the newly-appointed US Ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gore said on Monday.

Relations between the two countries nosedived after US President Donald Trump in August imposed a 50 per cent tariff on most Indian oil imports, accusing India of continuing to buy Russian oil. However, the two sides are pushing ahead with negotiations on a long-stalled trade deal.

Talking to reporters at the US Embassy, Gore said India will be asked to become a full member of the Pax Silica initiative launched by the US last month. Israel joins key Asia-Pacific partners such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia in the US-led effort. The main objective of this initiative is to balance China’s growing dominance in the AI supply chain.

Named after the Latin for peace and silicon, the Pax Silica coalition aims to build a secure supply chain of critical technologies and components without relying on China. “As the world rapidly adopts new technologies, it is imperative that India and the United States work together from the outset of this initiative,” Gore said ahead of his assumption.

Describing India as “second to no partner” for the US, he said he has come with a clear mandate to take the bilateral relationship to “the next level”. According to him, this relationship is a partnership between “the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy”.

“The personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strengthened the bilateral cooperation,” Gore said. “The United States and India are bound together not only by common interests, but also by a high level of mutual interest. Real friends may disagree, but eventually they can resolve their differences,” he said.

He expressed optimism over the ongoing trade talks and said both countries were determined to reach an agreement.