Russia and US seek to block plan for binding rules on autonomous weapons

What happened

Russia and the United States are leading a group of countries opposing a United Nations plan to start negotiations on a legally binding treaty for autonomous weapons. The issue will be addressed at the seventh review conference on certain conventional weapons in Geneva from November 16 to 20, where 128 countries are expected to attend. Supporters of the treaty want a mandate for formal negotiations, while opponents are pushing for continued voluntary, non-binding measures instead. The conference follows years of UN discussions on the regulation of AI-powered weapons.

Key details

• The Ireland-led coalition of 50 states is calling for a strict negotiating mandate at the Geneva conference.
• More than 70 countries have expressed support for starting negotiations on a legal instrument to regulate autonomous weapons.
• The proposed mandate would create an expert group to negotiate rules over three sessions in Geneva in 2027, totaling 25 days.
• The US and Russia, along with Israel, oppose setting a timetable for a legally binding instrument.
• A UN experts group defined autonomous weapons as those that can identify, select, and engage targets without human intervention.

Why it matters

Countries developing or deploying AI-powered weapons, as well as those concerned about their use, face a possible delay in the creation of enforceable international rules. If the conference does not agree to start treaty negotiations, regulation may remain limited to voluntary measures, leaving states unbound by clear legal restrictions. This affects governments, military organizations, and advocacy groups seeking accountability and oversight for autonomous weapons in conflict.