At this summit, according to agencies, 35 countries agreed on the main provisions of a declaration regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence in the context of military actions, while the two leading powers, the USA and China, remained outside this agreement according to media reports.
Many delegates noted that the tension in relations between the USA and European allies, as well as the uncertainty of future transatlantic relations, affected the willingness of countries to sign joint agreements. As a result, some states preferred not to take on even political commitments.
The declaration emphasizes the growing concern regarding the rapid development of artificial intelligence, highlighting the risks of accidents, errors, and unintended escalation in the absence of clear rules for its military use.
Ruben Brekelmans, the Dutch Minister of Defense, characterized the situation as a "prisoner's dilemma." He noted that governments need to impose responsible limitations but fear that this could put them at a disadvantage compared to potential rivals. According to him, Russia and China are actively developing their technologies, which pushes for accelerated work on the responsible application of such systems.
The countries that signed the declaration agreed on a set of 20 principles. The most important of these are human accountability for the use of AI in weaponry, the necessity of clear command structures, and the proposal for information exchange on national control mechanisms, provided it does not contradict national security. The importance of risk assessment, reliable testing, and training of personnel working with military AI technologies is also emphasized.
It is important to note that the declaration has no legal force. Yasmin Afina, a researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research and a consultant in the document preparation process, emphasized that even in this format, some countries felt discomfort, as this year’s discussions were about more specific approaches than last year.
In comparison, at previous summits in The Hague and Seoul, held in 2023 and 2024, about 60 countries supported a more general "roadmap for action" without legal obligations. At that time, the USA approved the document, while China, as now, remained on the sidelines.
