Italy joins US‑led Pax Silica AI supply‑chain pact despite Trump dispute

Italy announced it will become a member of the United States‑led Pax Silica initiative, which coordinates allied supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are slated to sign a memorandum of understanding, giving Italy a political foothold in the alliance that already includes the European Commission, the Netherlands and a growing list of partner nations.

The move comes amid a public row between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Donald Trump after Italy refused U.S. requests to use its bases for operations against Iran. Earlier this week, Tajani rejected NATO chief Mark Rutte’s claim that U.S. aircraft had taken off from Italian bases for “Operation Epic Fury,” stating that only flights allowed under treaty obligations are permitted and no offensive strikes have been conducted from Italian soil. The diplomatic tension underscores Italy’s effort to balance cooperation on technology security with broader strategic disagreements with Washington.