ROME, July 29 (Reuters) - Italy and the United States on Friday will sign ‌off on a cooperation agreement on ‌the so-called Pax Silica initiative on artificial intelligence supply ​chains, a statement from Rome's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Pax Silica is a U.S. State Department initiative bringing together allied countries ‌to secure AI-related ⁠supply chains, covering areas ranging from semiconductors and critical minerals to advanced ⁠manufacturing and AI models. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta will ​sign off ​on the agreement ​on Friday in ‌Brindisi, southern Italy, the statement said. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementItaly was due to join Pax Silica in Miami in June, but Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called off the trip after Prime Minister Giorgia ‌Meloni and U.S. President ​Donald Trump had a ​public falling out, ​with Washington accusing Rome of ‌providing little support in ​the Iran war. "The ​goal is to foster an ecosystem supporting the growth of these key sectors ​and to ‌reduce dependence on exporting countries," the ​Italian ministry added.