At the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit held on February 5 in La Coruña, Spain, only 35 out of 85 participating countries signed a declaration regarding the governance of artificial intelligence for military purposes.
The United States and China, the two leading military powers, did not join this document, according to media reports.
Representatives of the countries noted that the decision to sign agreements was influenced by the strained relations between the U.S. and its European allies, as well as the uncertain prospects for transatlantic relations in the future. As a result, some states preferred to avoid even political commitments.
The declaration highlights the growing concern over the rapid development of AI: the rules for its use in the military sphere may not keep pace with technological progress, increasing the likelihood of mistakes and unintended escalation of conflicts.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans characterized the situation as a "prisoner's dilemma": governments face the necessity of introducing responsible limitations, but at the same time fear that this may put them at a disadvantage compared to competitors. He emphasized that Russia and China are moving at a rapid pace, creating pressure on other states to accelerate their developments, while also increasing the need for a responsible approach to the use of such technologies.
The countries that signed the declaration agreed on 20 key principles, among which stands out human responsibility for the application of AI in weaponry, the importance of a clear command and control structure, and the exchange of information about national oversight mechanisms, provided it does not contradict national security interests. The necessity for risk assessment, reliable testing, and training of personnel working with military AI systems is also emphasized.
Despite the importance of the document, it does not have legal force. Yasmin Afina, a researcher from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research who participated in drafting the declaration, noted that even in this format, some countries felt discomfort, as this time the discussion was about more specific approaches than in previous years.
For comparison: at previous summits in The Hague and Seoul in 2023 and 2024, about 60 countries supported a more general "roadmap for action" without legal obligations. At that time, the U.S. approved the document, while China, as this time, remained on the sidelines.
