Harnessing safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI for the maintenance of international peace and security - Security Council Arria Formula Meeting

Mr. President, this Security Council LAIA Formula meeting on harnessing safe, inclusive, trustworthy artificial intelligence for the maintenance of international peace and security is called to order. Before proceeding, I would like to make a few housekeeping rules. We are very honoured that we have a long list of speakers. But on the other hand, we know that we have to finish at 6:00 sharp. So I make a plea, first of all, to myself, but also to others who might agree that we might be a bit disciplined in our intervention time-wise so we can give the opportunity to, I mean, have the list of speakers exhausted. So, Having said that, I would like to welcome you to this AREIA meeting on behalf of our co-organizers, France and the Republic of Korea, as well as Netherlands, Armenia, Italy for co-sponsoring, and all the other participants. So we are going to start, and without further ado, I will give the floor to our first briefer, which is Mr. Yannis Mastrogiorgiou, Special Secretary for Strategic Foresight at the Presidency of Hellenic Government, the coordinator of the National Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence of Greece. He will connect via VTC in Athens. It's late in the evening in Athens, so Mr. Mastrogiorgiou will stay for us, most probably not on the whole of the meeting, it will be very late in Athens, but he will make his intervention, stay enough listen to others. So, Mr. Special Secretary, the floor is yours.

Thank you so much, Mr. Ambassador.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies. It is really privileged and an honor for me to be here and to speak in front of you on.

This assembly about artificial intelligence.

Just to be very brief, I would like to thank mostly our co-organizers for this exceptional event.

So, ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, as Greece assumes its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, we recognize that United Nations as a critical forum for steering the global trajectory of AI.

The UN's unique ability to convene diverse nations mediate dialogue and build consensus positions to lead the development of universally accepted standards, frameworks and ethical guidelines. This role is essential because the impact of AI transcends national boundaries and requires comprehensive, collaborative and inclusive governance.

Our country's term follows.

The recent adoption of the Global Digital Compact, which strengthens multilateral cooperation on emerging technologies and enhances the governments of AI for the benefit of humanity through international cooperation. Artificial intelligence, ladies and gentlemen.

You know that stands at a transformative crossroads with unprecedented potential to reshape the fabric of global society.

Rapidly advancing and becoming increasingly.

Autonomous, this technology is already influencing the economy, security, and the very structure of human interaction. AI has the capacity to elevate humanity, addressing urgent global issues like climate change, disease eradication, and poverty alleviation.

Yet, it also poses profound threats, deepening inequalities, enabling mass surveillance.

Disrupting the labor markets and even potentially reshaping warfare.

Such profound implications demand collective stewardship, a mission the UN is uniquely qualified to undertake. Greece is committed to advancing and human centric.

AI agenda, emphasizing transparency, ethical use and accountability to ensure these powerful technologies enhance rather than diminish human rights and democratic principles. Our national AI strategy reflects these values, ensuring technological innovation remains anchored in humanity's welfare. In this light, it contributes to international peace and security through the strengthening of the rule of law, democratic values, social cohesion and economic development. Our blueprint for Greece's AI transformation, which is our national strategy.

Provides guiding principles and flexible projects for advancing the progress of AI.

In Greece with priorities including safeguarding and strengthening democracy, environmental sustainability, and shielding the economy, society from the risk.

Of unregulated use.

The special secretariat of foresight of the presidency of the government, which I had.

Had the honor to coordinate the drafting of the above mentioned blueprint as a multidimensional and collaborative methodology was.

Applied to this result.

Therefore, Greece proposes enhancing global cooperation between the UN, within the UN framework.

Through dedicated initiatives such as international AI safety and ethics research hubs, the establishment of an international AI observatory to monitor.

Risks and advancements and creating specialized forums for ongoing dialogues between AI leaders, policy makers, civil society and industry stakeholders. Greece also participates in key initiatives for the regulation of AI, such as the recent Paris AI Action Summit, the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence, the so-called GPI.

And the chairing of the OECD Global Strategy Summit on the Future of Global AI Governance.

In the same context, Greece participates in the Committee of Artificial Intelligence of the Council of Europe and the drafting of a negotiation of the Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. Additionally, Greece participates as a rapporteur in the drafting group of the handbook on AI and human rights set up by the Steering Committee on Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The government, along with Oxford University Institute for Ethics, Stanford University, Harvard University, and other partners.

Launched the Lyceum project from the Aristotle Lyceum in Athens.

A series of events explores Aristotelian ethics in AI, emphasizing human flourishing, virtue ethics, and reason in AI regulation.

In practical recognition of Greece's leading role in the development of AI, it is noteworthy that Greece has been selected as one of the very first seven European countries that have been entrusted with the creation of AI factory.

That will boost innovation in the EU and harness the capacity.

Of supercomputers to develop reliable AI models and link excellence and talent with economic growth and social cohesion.

Dear Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, AI has the power to change the world.

But in the absence of common government frameworks, it can deepen social divides, increase discrimination and threaten peace and security.

Greece supports a global approach that ensures transparency and human oversight.

In the operation of algorithms, addressing the biases that are critical across the full range of AI applications.

Additionally, our country advocates for incorporating AI governments into the global agenda of peace and security discussions. Issues such as autonomous weapon systems, AI enabled misinformation and digital authoritarianism require proactive engagement at the highest international level.

To prevent escalation into global security crisis.

Moreover, as AI rapidly advances towards fully autonomous systems, agentic AI agents capable of decision making and independent action national policies alone will not suffice.

The global community faces an urgent need for harmonized regulation and oversight. to avoid the fragmented governance landscape that could exacerbate geopolitical tensions or create opportunities for misuse.

Finally, the UN must play a central role in democratizing AI benefits.

Bridging the.

AI literacy divide between nations, ensuring equitable access to technology and promoting inclusive economic development are essential to prevent AI from becoming yet another source of global inequality.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us act boldly and collaboratively because the future of humanity depends on it. Thank you so much.

I would like to thank warmly Mr. Masour Georgiou for his very interesting, I mean, presentation on the measures and the initiatives that Greece has adopted on a national capacity in AI. And now I'm very happy to give the floor to our second speaker, which is Dr. Jasmine Afena, AI researcher in the Security Technology Program of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva. Thank you so much, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much. Distinguished Chair, members of the Security Council, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, allow me to express my gratitude to Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for organizing this meeting and for the invitation extended to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, or UNIDIR. I also wish to thank Armenia, Italy, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for co-hosting this event, as well as Mr. Giannis Mazorogiorgiou and Ms. Charlotte Scadden for sharing their insights today. This meeting takes place at a critical juncture for the governance of artificial intelligence in international peace and security. As with any other powerful technology introduced to the military and security domains, the effects and implications of AI will be deep, diverse, and far-reaching. AI holds great promise for fostering international, regional, and national peace and security, but it is also the source of grave concerns, worries, and fears. These two statements are by no means mutually exclusive. With innovation and progress proceeding apace, the international community states and the wider multi-stakeholder ecosystem are increasingly invested in ensuring the responsible development, deployment and use of this technology. Mere months ago, on 24 December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 79239 on artificial intelligence in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security. The adoption of this resolution represented a pivotal moment for multilateral discussions on AI. For the first time, the international peace and security community was invited to reflect on the impact of the development, deployment, and use of AI beyond lethal autonomous weapon systems. This amounted to a welcome recognition of the far wider range of existing and potential military applications enabled by this powerful technology. But it is important to note that states have also driven other key initiatives in this area, two of which I will be highlighting today. First, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea hosted in 2023 and 2024 respectively, the Responsible AI in the Military Domain Summit or REAIM. This year's edition will be hosted by Spain in September. And second, last February, France held its own AI Action Summit, which followed on from the 2024 AI Seoul Summit in the Republic of Korea and the 2023 AI Safety Summit hosted at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom. And one of the key outcomes of the AI Action Summit was the Paris Declaration on maintaining human control in AI-enabled weapon systems, and which has already been adopted and endorsed by 27 states from Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Within the context of the United Nations, UNIDIR has been pioneering research at the intersection of AI and international peace and security for many years, even before this topic consolidated its status on the international policy agenda. Through our work, UNIDIR has been quick to understand the need for an independent, inclusive, and trusted platform to allow for meaningful engagement with the multi-stakeholder community where a wealth of critical expertise can be found. In March 2024, the Institute, in partnership with Microsoft, established the Roundtable for AI Security and Ethics, or RAISE, to serve as its flagship initiative for fostering multi-stakeholder cross-regional dialogue on AI for international peace and security. And just last week, under the RAISE umbrella, UNIDIR convened its inaugural global conference on AI security and ethics. with speakers from all P5 countries and every UN regional group, from Singapore to South Africa, from Ecuador to India, the two days of the conference gathered nearly 500 in-person participants, with over 1,000 more joining online. This is a testament to the clear importance that states and the wider multi-stakeholder community place on ensuring that AI technologies are developed, deployed, and used in ways that foster international peace and security. The conference also confirmed the relevance of the following six priority areas identified by UNIDIR through its wide-ranging forward-looking research and activities in this area. First, there is a need to build capacity on AI for international peace and security along with a solid base of shared knowledge. To be meaningful, capacity building efforts must be designed in close consultation with the target audiences and appropriate resources and structures must also be given over to the reinforcement of existing capacity rather than focusing exclusively on the new. These efforts must take into account the inherent differences in states on policy landscapes, strategic priorities, values, ambitions, cultures, legal traditions, and histories. Second, whether between states and stakeholders or in the technology itself, trust will be critical in fostering international peace and security. However, for it to be actionable, the concept of trust needs to be further explained as the development, deployment, and use of AI intensifies. In the context of AI for international peace and security, trust can be broken down in at least three key layers, each requiring dedicated and deliberate efforts. Trust between states, trust between the users and developers, and trust in the technology. Such efforts would include the incentivization of responsible behavior, as well as a focus on concrete use cases that reveal key sources of distrust. Third, there is a need to unpack the human element across the technology's life cycle, as well as its implications for issues such as accountability, trust, system performance, and system reliability. Fourth, there is a pressing need for greater understanding of the symbiotic relationship between AI and data, underlining how data practices can constitute key enablers for responsible AI ecosystem. The establishment of clear frameworks and solutions for digital forensics, for example, can ensure the maintenance of accountability and responsibility. But many concerns and risks still need to be addressed more fully, not least those stemming from harmful biases in datasets. Fifth, the governance of AI for peace and security and international, regional and national levels must adopt the whole of lifecycle approach that extends beyond use. Legal and ethical considerations must be embedded from the outset and by design in the conceptualization, development, testing, and evaluation of these technologies, and international law in particular cannot and must not be treated as an afterthought. Further attention must also be paid to the end of the life cycle. Robust decommissioning protocols and processes can help to minimize risks around proliferation, diversion, and the exploitation of vulnerabilities, as well as mitigating unintended consequences from the degradation of a given system's performance. Sixth, the development, integration, deployment, and use of AI for international peace and security must be appraised along with the destabilizing effects that these technologies can enable, induce, or multiply. AI can be both a force multiplier and a threat multiplier. with risk for the integrity of the information space, of inadvertent escalation, and of sensitive technologies falling into the hands of non-state armed groups and malicious actors. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, developed, deployed, and used responsibly and in accordance with international law, artificial intelligence holds great promise as a means of enhancing international peace and security. The increased affordability of these technologies and the advent of open source AI could pave the way for more equitable access to such opportunities. This extends far beyond the military domain and into the wider security applications that comply with international law, notes of the international human rights law. And these might include, for instance, more effective support to counter-terrorism activities, border security, counter-piracy efforts, or humanitarian responses to natural disaster. However, states and the wider stakeholder community alike also share a host of concerns about the risks and the challenges that these technologies pose for international peace and security. Cyber threats, escalation risks, disruptions in the information environment, technological biases, over-dependency, structural risks, profound economic and social implications, these risks are real and they apply both during armed conflict and in peacetime. Looking ahead, it is clear that ensuring the responsible applications of these technologies for international peace and security is a priority as recognized by General Assembly Resolution 79239, the pact for the future and discussions on this issue at numerous Security Council meetings since 2023. The Council members and the wider community of UN member states and observer states might thus consider the following steps going forward. First, as UNIDIR has also suggested in the area of cyber threats, the Council could follow its practice from other issue areas by convening an annual session dedicated specifically to assessing the technological landscape in the field of AI, as well as its implication for international peace and security. Second, there is great value in providing independent platforms for discussions that transcend disciplines, sectors, borders, and geopolitical divisions. The United Nations are uniquely well placed to provide spaces for collective action that can reinforce international peace and security while ensuring complementarity with an array of ongoing processes and initiatives. Third, there is particular utility in convening dialogue at the regional and sub-regional levels to exchange information, share best practices, and foster truly international cooperation. Fourth, we highly encourage member states to develop, implement, review, and update national strategies that frame their approach both to harnessing the opportunities and to addressing the risks of AI for international, regional, and national peace and security. UNIDIR stands ready to assist states in this critical endeavor, be that through our impartial evidence-based research, our unique convening power, or our tailored capacity-building programs that ensures that no one is left behind. Thank you for your attention.

I would like to thank warmly Ms. Safina for her very interesting presentation describing the work-related efforts of UNIDIR. And with this occasion, I would like to recognize the presence here among us of Mr. Giacomo Persi Paoli, the director of the UNIDIR. Thank you for being with us today. And now it's my great pleasure to give the floor to our third briefer, Mrs. Charlotte Scaddan, senior advisor in information integrity of the UN Department of Global Communications. You have the floor. Thank you.

Good afternoon. Thank you, Ambassador Sakaris, for chairing this meeting and to all of the member state organizers. It's an honor to join my fellow panelists, albeit virtually, and I thank them for their expert interventions. I welcome this opportunity to highlight AI's impact on information integrity and the implications for international peace and security, and to share practical responses to the challenges we face. AI technologies have had an undeniable impact on the information landscape. If deployed responsibly, they can facilitate access to accurate, reliable information, foster free expression, and contribute to healthy and vibrant information ecosystems. But how do we make this vision a reality, given the many challenges before us, many of which were just outlined by our previous speakers? What concrete steps can we take as the UN and as an international community? In the AI High Level Advisory Body's Governing AI for Humanity report, experts ranked damage to information integrity as a top risk concern. Before turning to solutions, I would like to elaborate on two risk areas. The first is being much discussed around the world as technology companies continue to integrate AI into our everyday applications at breakneck speed. It is the role of AI and GenAI in curating and creating information and people's growing reliance on this technology to shape their understanding of the world. At present, Gen. AI tools are proliferating in the public domain, but cannot uniformly be relied on as sources of accurate information. Ongoing studies and testing show that they frequently do not distinguish between rigorous science on the one hand and dirty data or outright nonsense on the other. And yet, people are increasingly accessing this convenient and flawed data without being equipped to assess its veracity or reliability, which can contribute to a deeply concerning trend, the lack of trust in any information source and in the information ecosystem more broadly, as people just don't know what is real and what to believe. At pivotal societal moments, and especially in fragile settings, this can contribute to instability and unrest, sometimes with disastrous consequences. We are, in effect, guinea pigs in an information experiment in which the resilience of our societies is being put to the test. The second risk area is one where the UN's work is being adversely affected. the misuse of AI in facilitating the creation and dissemination of false and hateful information at scale, which can affect the peace and security of communities and countries. Gen. AI tools have made it immeasurably easier for a broad range of actors to spread false claims for financial or strategic gain. It now costs next to nothing to quickly and easily create a flood of convincing lies and hate with minor human intervention. To target specific groups and individuals, actors draw on personal data, our personal data, that has been sold as part of the advertising supply chain. Tactics like this can trigger diplomatic crises, incite unrest, and undermine understanding of realities on the ground. We've seen AI-generated deep fake images, audio, and video weaponized in conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan, circulating across digital platforms. We're also now seeing AI used openly and explicitly to generate content designed to undermine social cohesion, content that demonizes or dehumanizes women, refugees, migrants, and minorities, content that is anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, racist, and xenophobic. The United Nations has experienced grave impacts on our missions and our priorities. Peace and humanitarian operations are targeted with false and hateful narratives. negatively affecting the safety and security of UN personnel and making the task of implementing their mandates harder. In turn, this is impacting communities small and large, jeopardizing their stability. Let me now turn to some of the concrete steps needed to address these areas of risk. The UN system has been coordinating and working together to ramp up our efforts. This includes what we call the three R approach, research, risk assessment, and response. Through research, we can better understand information risks in complex, multi-platform, multilingual environments. Our work includes outreach with affected communities to hear and understand their perceptions and concerns. UN entities then assess the risk posed to UN mandate delivery and thematic priorities, including for safety and security. We use this insight to design appropriate mitigation and response measures. Most immediately, this means quick and proactive communication to address information voids across widespread on and offline spaces. This can be done through our own channels and also by coalitions with community leaders, influencers, and civil society groups. Partnering with trusted voices is invaluable in engaging people with factual, life-saving information in spaces the UN may have a harder time reaching. Of course, these efforts require resources. including for skills training and technology, as we ourselves harness AI tools as part of our response. We also continue to support the efforts of the international community, including through our work to implement the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity. Launched by the Secretary-General in June last year, the principles provide a framework for action to strengthen the information ecosystem and offer a resource to member states in meeting the commitments agreed in the Global Digital Compact. The principles contain recommendations for a wide range of stakeholders around five pillars, societal trust and resilience, healthy incentives, public empowerment, independent free and pluralistic media, and transparency and research. I'd like to highlight three key recommendation areas. Firstly, states play a central role in shaping information spaces, beginning with obligations to respect, promote, and protect human rights, in particular, the right to freedom of expression. This means that regulatory measures to address information integrity comply with applicable international law and are carried out with the full participation of civil society. Freedom of expression requires not only that people are able to express their views, but that they're able to seek and receive ideas and information of all kinds. It is exponentially harder to do this when you're in a polarized, opaque information environment crowded with lies and hate. In such a landscape, guardrails allow for more free speech, not less. and protect people who feel unsafe in online spaces, giving voice to those otherwise silenced. Guardrails can help enable inclusive access to information, and they can support and encourage innovation and help foster public trust in fast emerging AI technologies. There is growing awareness among the communities we serve that the sooner guardrails are established, the less risk for us all. Secondly, information integrity is not possible without a free, independent and pluralistic media. Professional journalism requires considerable investment, yet the advertising-driven business model which long supported independent media has drastically eroded. AI has prompted new concerns. Quality journalism is being scraped and summarized or used to train AI without permission or compensation. Gen. AI search summaries replacing standard search results can reduce web traffic to new sites, further affecting revenue streams. Many news outlets, particularly at the local level, just can't compete. For them, it's not just a matter of relevance, it's a matter of survival. The result is news deserts. The vacuum is filled by AI-generated articles or downgraded versions of journalistic content or malicious content imitating news. This can be particularly destabilizing in conflict and crisis zones. Responses must therefore urgently support sustainable business models for public interest media. They must also ensure better protection for media workers, along with researchers, academics, and civil society who are under attack around the world. Thirdly, there is an urgent global need for public empowerment in the information ecosystem, including through measures to boost resilience through formal and informal education to ensure media and digital literacy skills that allow people to navigate information spaces safely and effectively. States can prioritize the literacy needs of groups in vulnerable and marginalized situations, who are often those most adversely affected by information risks. And they can undertake literacy efforts around specific problems related to AI, keeping up with new and emerging technologies. Public awareness must improve around online rights, how AI works, and how personal data is used. These are some of the responses we are pursuing. No actor can achieve this vision alone, and it's clear that a multifaceted approach is critical. The urgency of the challenge requires multi-stakeholder coalitions with collaborations between countries to support capacity building and increase global resilience. This is the only viable path to an information ecosystem in which AI innovation is harnessed for information integrity, human rights, and international peace and security. Thank you.

I would like to warmly thank Ms. Cadden for her very interesting presentation and to praise in her name the Department of Global Communication for all the efforts they have undertaken in the artificial intelligence domain. And now I will open the floor first for those Security Council members who wishes to speak. And the first speaker on my list is the representative of Denmark. You have the floor, please.

Thank you, Chair, colleagues, excellencies. Let me start by thanking the organizers of today's meeting and also commend the briefers for their insightful presentations. This is indeed an opportunity to build on the Council's earlier meetings on artificial intelligence held in July 2023 and most recently in December 2024. Mr. Chair, AI technologies continue to evolve at rapid pace and are transforming societies and economies globally. In the peace and security context, there are examples of AI being used both to fuel conflicts and to promote peace and security. On the one hand, AI can be an instrument of war in terms of surveillance, sowing hatred and distrust through the spread of disinformation, as we just heard, as well as hate speech, and also via cyber attacks and autonomous weapons, as another briefer mentioned earlier. On the other, AI offers potential in support of peacebuilding and peacekeeping through early warning, more effective conflict resolution mechanisms, and in support of decision-making. So to increase the chances that the opportunities associated with AI outweigh the risks, the General Assembly has on more than one occasion expressed a consensus on the need for safe, secure and trustworthy AI. With the adoption of the first GA resolution on the use of AI in the military domain that was referenced earlier, Member States conveyed their overwhelming support for the application of international law to AI in the military domain, along with the importance of narrowing the global AI divide and ensuring a multi-stakeholder approach. Accordingly, our priority must be to ensure the responsible use of trustworthy AI for peace and security in compliance with international law, including both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We therefore call on Member States to ensure that humans remain responsible and accountable for the development, deployment, and use of AI applications in the military domain, to implement appropriate safeguards relating to human judgment and control over the use of force, and to ensure that AI is not used in ways that undermine human rights and the rule of law. Denmark remains committed to continuing multilateral dialogue on responsible AI in the military domain, and we encourage continued deepening of international cooperation in this field. We also invite more member states to join the Paris Declaration on maintaining human control in AI-enabled weapon systems, which Denmark joined earlier this year. Extending beyond the military domain, Denmark supports the creation of a cohesive global framework for AI governance to ensure that AI technologies are developed, deployed and managed responsibly. On the ground where peace operations work hard every day to implement the mandates adopted by the Security Council, we see how AI-enabled rapid dissemination of mis- and disinformation, hate speech, and manipulated content can contribute to further polarization and hatred among local populations. Moreover, when UN peacekeepers are subjected to disinformation campaigns, their ability to implement their mandates is put at risk, as is the safety and security of the peacekeepers themselves. Yet the integration of AI capabilities and decision making in peace operations can also enhance the safety and operational effectiveness of peacekeepers. There's also a potential to leverage AI powered analysis of mission wide data to identify early signs of potential conflicts and threats to civilians, thus enabling timely preventive action and the protection of civilians. AI driven systems can bolster the UN's capabilities for detecting and addressing cyber threats, as well as countering mis and disinformation and hate speech. Furthermore, AI technologies could support peace operations in remote monitoring and verification of ceasefire agreements. Mr. Chair, the Security Council should engage meaningfully on how AI shapes international peace and security, including by considering how AI systems can be leveraged by the UN to effectively implement Security Council resolutions and UN peace operation mandates. To this end, the Council would benefit from continuously inviting relevant experts from the private sector, civil society and academia to brief, just as we have seen here today. I thank you, Chair.

I would like to thank the representative of Denmark for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Greece and others for convening this meeting today. We also thank briefers for their useful presentations. Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming everything with deep impact on society, economy, business lives and livelihoods. AI's opportunities are immense, but so are challenges. Our collective experience tells us that more often realizing potential opportunities of emerging technologies is not automatic. but a factor of conscious effort and cooperation. Conversely, mitigating risks and challenges associated with technologies is not possible without collaborative efforts and joint action. Artificial intelligence is no different. Mr. Chair, amongst major areas, AI's impact is sharply evident in the context of international peace and security with security, strategic, ethical, operational, technical, legal, and normative risks. In this respect, I'll make following points. One, the most important characteristic of artificial intelligence is that it is artificial. In other words, conscious human hand behind its development is what defines AI's powers features and outcomes. Therefore, it is up to humans to delineate the control and structures of AI systems. Two, international collaboration in the development of AI is crucial to ensure that it is representative, comprehensive, and inclusive. All member states, including developing countries, and all segments of society must be involved in the democratic, inclusive, and equitable development of AI at each stage. Three, we must ensure that AI does not become another facet of ongoing arms race impacting global peace and security. Cognizant efforts would be required to put necessary guardrails, regulations, and governance frameworks. Four, Existing challenges such as misinformation, fake news, cyber attacks, including on critical infrastructure by state and non-state actors are being supercharged by AI. It is our collective responsibility to clarify the application of international law and undertake concrete actions to avert looming crises. Five, unfortunately, rather than focusing on collective opportunities for our shared benefit, some are resorting to putting barriers to peaceful uses of technology. However, as witnessed in case of other technologies, the democratization of AI would be realized eventually. Already some recent developments from our region are encouraging sign that powerful AI systems could be developed with less resources and finances than what was thought before. Mr. Chair, it is critical to avoid fragmentation in AI development and governance. Discriminatory agendas and inequitable forums with select representation would not take us far. We must prioritize consolidation of efforts over selective approaches. Importantly, these issues should be taken up comprehensively in representative forums with universal participation under the UN auspices. We hope that the UN's global dialogue on AI governance could offer a sustainable and effective framework towards this objective. We would also continue our contribution on the important initiative of AI in military domain, which presented first ever resolution on the subject in the last year's first committee. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Pakistan for his statements. And now I give the floor to the Charg d'affaires of the United States. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you other honored permanent representatives and deputy permanent representatives and others who came out for this important meeting, which we thank you for organizing. And thank you to the briefers also for your presentations today. We agree on the need to harness trustworthy artificial intelligence for the maintenance of international peace and security. Colleagues, at the AI Action Summit in Paris earlier this year, US Vice President JD Vance outlined the tremendous opportunities AI presents and noted that the United States is focusing on AI's opportunities. The AI revolution will enhance the UN Security Council's ability to maintain international peace and security. As the world's leader on AI, the United States supports systems that are free from ideological bias and open to everyone. The United States wants to embark on the AI revolution with a spirit of openness and collaboration. We believe AI will revolutionize economic innovation, national security, free expression, and countless other fields. Restricting AI development would paralyze one of the most promising technologies seen in generations while handing the initiative to nefarious actors who are unburdened by any such restraints. Colleagues, AI has the potential to play a transformative role in the maintenance of international peace and security. AI can facilitate better, faster decision making, which will help militaries avoid unintended engagements and also enhance states' ability to implement their obligations under international humanitarian law. The United States encourages UN peacekeeping missions to utilize technology to protect civilians, including by bolstering early warning, promoting information integrity, and countering actions that undermine the ability of UN missions to implement their mandates. AI can enhance the timeliness of lifesaving information necessary to counter threats to humanitarian operations and mitigate interruptions to food deliveries, protect humanitarian personnel, and counter restrictions on free expression. Colleagues, it is important to ensure AI is not misused by malicious actors to facilitate human rights abuses, as well as by leveraging AI to improve civilian protection, address inappropriate suppression of information, and enhance life-saving humanitarian response amid conflicts. We have seen and we continue to see hostile foreign adversaries weaponize AI software to rewrite history, surveil users, and censor speech. This is hardly new, of course. As they do with other tech, some authoritarian regimes have misused AI to strengthen their militaries, their intelligence and surveillance capabilities, capture foreign data, and create propaganda and disinformation to undermine other nations' national security. This only underscores the importance of the theme of this event about leveraging AI for the maintenance of international peace and security. And so we thank you again for this effort. Thank you, Chair.

I would like to thank the CDA of the United States for her statements. And now I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you very much, and I thank Greece, France, the Republic of Korea and the co sponsors of this event for bringing this issue to the Security Council in this inclusive area format. And can I also thank the briefers. The one thing that really stood out for me was the link that you drew between information integrity and peace and security, and thereby lives and livelihoods. So thank you for that. Thank you also for the very clear propositions for us to consider in terms of steps around multi stakeholder action, cross-border approaches, transparency of data, as well as the legal and ethical considerations. Thank you. As the UK, we welcome the focus on this topic. It reflects an increasing awareness of these issues and builds on several discussions going back to when the UK convened the first Security Council meeting exploring the implications of artificial intelligence in 2023. The UK remains committed to our shared goal of developing inclusive, safe, secure and trustworthy AI. Today, I will briefly touch on a few areas where we are working in collaboration with others to achieve this goal and in doing so address the guiding questions. So firstly, on peacekeeping, it is critical that we understand the potential of AI to improve peacekeeping missions, data collection, analysis efforts, situational awareness, and decision making. At the request of the UN's Department of Peace Operations, the UK is authoring a paper exploring those issues and the potential uses of AI in peacekeeping. On safety, the UK is proud to have played a role in commissioning the international AI safety report, the world's first comprehensive synthesis of current literature on the risks and capabilities of advanced AI systems, which was published in February. It builds understandings that are critical to informing international discussion such as harnessing AI for peace and security. In the military domain, the UK has participated actively in initiatives on AI in the military domain, including the Responsible Uses of AI in the Military Domain summits, REAIM, and US-led political declaration on responsible military use of AI and autonomy. We have also welcomed efforts under the Global Digital Compact to close digital divides and enhance international governance on AI for the benefit of humanity. The UK is confident that initiatives like this lay the foundations for discussions in the UN on how to harness AI capabilities in a way that supports international peace and security. And finally, on hate speech. Recognizing the danger, as we have heard today, of online hate speech as a driver of conflict and the risk it poses to human rights, Working with the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, we supported the development of a new methodology for monitoring social media to address and counter online hate speech, thereby providing a tool for the UN, for governments, and technology companies to monitor and prevent hate speech and safeguard human rights. Chair, as we look forward, we must ensure that new initiatives complement our existing efforts. We must continue to assess the capabilities opportunities, risks and challenges that AI presents. Cybersecurity must be a core requirement and primary consideration for any AI system, not just in the development phase but throughout the life cycle of the system. And we must remain vigilant on threats, protecting privacy, fairness, reliability and predictability, and guarding against its irresponsible use. Thank you.

I would like to thank the representative of the United Kingdom for his statement. And now I give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We thank Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for organizing this important meeting, and Armenia, Italy, and the Netherlands for their co-sponsorship. We also thank the briefers for their valuable presentations. Algeria reaffirms its commitment to a future where artificial intelligence serves as a force for peace rather than a catalyst for division or conflict. Our position builds on three fundamental premises. First, the AI divide represents not just a technological gap, but a matter of sovereignty and security. Developing countries must be equal participant in shaping AI governance. Second, international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and the human rights law must apply throughout the entire life cycle of AI systems in the military domain, as recently affirmed by General Assembly Resolution 79/239. Third, while AI presents new opportunities for sustainable development and peacekeeping, without adequate safeguards, AI deployments risk escalating conflicts and undermining international peace and security. Mr. Chair, Algeria has taken concrete steps to ensure ethical oversight through our national research and innovation strategy on AI. for 2020-2030 and establishing our National Scientific Council for AI. These national frameworks, aligned with international principles, help foster innovation while preventing misuse. As host of the third African Startup Conference focused on AI, we demonstrated our commitment to developing AI ecosystems that serves our people needs while respecting security imperatives on how initiatives supporting open inclusive and trustworthy AI contribute to International peace and security we believe the African digital compact provides a clear framework this Continental strategy envisions AI as a driver for positive change and socioeconomic transformation while ensuring its responsible use. In our view, the UN can leverage responsible AI through several practical measures. First, establish inclusive international mechanisms for sharing expertise in AI security, ensuring that developing countries are genuinely equal partners. Second, develop a binding framework requiring states to refrain from using military applications of AI in ways that violate international.

Law.

Third, invest in targeted capacity building programs to ensure all countries can assess and address AI related security risks. Fourth, create transparent protocols for international cooperation on AI safety that respect national development priorities. Fifth, support robust digital infrastructure in developing countries, thereby bridging the AI divide that threatens international peace and security. On practical responses to the challenges against information integrity, we must acknowledge that AI-powered disinformation campaigns represent a significant threat, including to peacekeeping, operation, and global stability. Mr. Cha, the successful adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime demonstrates that effective multilateral Action is possible when we work together. This adoption creates the right momentum for a future where AI benefits all of humanity, where no country is left behind, and where technological advancement goes hand in hand with peace and security. I thank you.

I would like to thank the representative of Algeria for his statement. And now I give the floor to the representative of Guyana.

Thank you, Chair. Guyana welcomes the convening of this ARIA Formula meeting focused on harnessing safe, inclusive, and trustworthy artificial intelligence for the maintenance of international peace and security. I thank Mr. Mastrogiorgio, Dr. Afena, and Ms. Scadan for their briefings. The artificial intelligence field is rapidly advancing and holds both the potential for sustainable development and significant risks. The opportunities presented by AI must be harnessed while the risks must be mitigated. This can be made possible through robust governance frameworks in line with international law, a point reiterated in the General Assembly resolutions on the topic. as well as in the Global Digital Compact and in the final report of the Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. Guyana believes that such initiatives help to pave the way for ensuring that AI is used in a responsible manner and for the benefit of all humankind. Chair, Co-Chairs, in addressing the guiding questions, I offer the following points. First, In supporting the maintenance of international peace and security, it is critical to ensure that AI technology is developed and utilized in a safe and ethical manner. Open AI systems allow for enhanced accessibility, inclusivity, collaboration among stakeholders, and support the advancement of the sustainable development goals, including in the areas of healthcare, education, and the environment. These systems can provide opportunities for bridging digital gaps between developed and developing countries and for enhancing knowledge and experiences. However, to ensure responsible use of AI through these systems, transparency, accountability, and human oversight and control must be prioritized. Open AI systems should also be safe, secure, and reliable. Once these elements are incorporated into open AI systems, the risks of misuse can be reduced, creating a more stable and secure global environment. Second, the UN, including the Security Council, has a role in leveraging the responsible use of AI to advance international peace and security. The UN has already begun to address this topic, including through the Global Digital Compact, the establishment of the Secretary-General's high-level advisory body on AI and the ongoing process to establish an independent scientific panel and a global dialogue on AI. Complementary to this, the Security Council, through its peacekeeping missions, can utilize AI systems to ensure the safety and protection of UN staff and peacekeepers. by predicting and preventing conflicts, improving situational awareness, expanding the overall reach of peacekeeping missions, and decreasing response times, especially for missions operating in challenging terrains. In employing AI systems, however, we must be cognizant of and address the potential for misuse of this technology, including any violations of international law and infringements on the sovereignty of any nation. Finally, There is a need for practical responses to challenges posed by the misuse of AI. One such practical measure is for countries to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure and to develop incident response plans to respond to cyber threats and attacks. At the international level, international cooperation through intelligence sharing and capacity building remains critical. In terms of preserving information integrity, countering hate speech and disinformation campaigns in the context of UN peace operations require educational awareness and training for peacekeepers. Raising public awareness on the perils of hate speech and how to detect disinformation can help to create a safer operating environment for peacekeepers. Additionally, peacekeepers, as part of their mandate, should be trained to detect and respond effectively to cyber threats, hate speech and disinformation, recognizing that they are at times victims of these. Dear co-chairs, in closing, Guyana underscores the need for a multilateral approach to dealing with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. It is important for us to advance discussions on this topic to derive initiatives and policies that will capitalize on opportunities presented by AI while mitigating the risks associated with its misuse. Through concerted efforts, we can ensure that AI technology does not threaten international peace and security but supports a more secure global environment for all. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Guyana for her statement. And now I give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia.

Thank you very much, Chair, and thanks to other organizers for organizing this meeting. I wish to, of course, also thank all the three briefers for their excellent presentations. I would like to begin by saying that since the last Security Council meeting on this topic last December, the world has continued to witness the magnitude of the artificial intelligence revolution. This past few months, have not only seen the unveiling of new AI models and their subsequent impact on the financial markets, but also an increased concern over, among others, their environmental impact due to substantial energy consumption and related freshwater usage. We commend the significant progress made towards the establishment and functioning of the independent international scientific panel on AI. and the global dialogue on AI governance, which is taking place at the United Nations. In this respect, we believe that conclusions of various national, subregional, regional, and international initiatives should be brought to the UN for discussion, leveraging its unique convening power while also enabling proactive collaborations among governments, civil society, private sector, and academia. Chair, the profound impact of AI and other new and emerging technologies on international peace and security require better representation on the Council's agenda. AI continues to be weaponized and used in contemporary conflicts, putting civilians at an even greater risk, blurring accountability, and resulting in a disproportionate use of force in violation of international humanitarian law. The malicious use of AI, such as AI-accelerated cyberattacks, and its proliferation in terrorism and organized crime further compound threats to international peace and security. Furthermore, the growing integration of dual-use AI capabilities, including in surveillance, predictive analysis, and autonomous decision-making, underscores the urgency of ensuring that such systems are developed and deployed with safeguards that uphold international law. Colleagues, Slovenia consistently advocates for the integration of AI-related discussions into the Council's existing mandates, as well as into other geographic and thematic issues, to ensure that the Council maintains its primary role in maintaining international peace and security. In this respect, we know that the Council's committees have been, in certain cases, directed to periodically review developments related to some of these impacts and threats, and explore ways to counter them, offering a model that could be applied to the Council as a whole. In conclusion, let me underline that we stand ready to consider concrete actions by the Council, including recognising that AI, particularly in relation to weapon systems, must be designed, developed, deployed and used in full compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian and international human rights law, to ensure its responsible use in advancing international peace and security.

I thank you, Chair.

I thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia for her statement. And I give the floor to the representative of China.

Chair, I thank Greece, France, and the ROK for jointly convening this meeting. I also listened attentively to the three briefers. Artificial intelligence is a strategic technology that will lead in the future. It will bring unprecedented development opportunities as well as risks and challenges to the world. China supports the UN in playing its role as the main channel for global technology governance and calls on all parties to uphold multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation to ensure that AI is safe, reliable, controllable and fair and plays a positive role in maintaining international peace and security. I wish to stress the following points. First, advocate AI for good. We need to stay people-centered and ensure that the development and application of technology is consistent with the shared values of all mankind and social ethics and norms. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be observed to prevent AI from becoming a tool for seeking hegemony. Second, ensure safety and controllability. We need to ensure that AI remains under human control at all times and constantly improve the explainability and predictability of AI. We need to respect the sovereignty of all countries, abide by local laws, and oppose the use of AI to interfere in the internal affairs, social systems, and social order of other countries. We should effectively safeguard data security, strengthen protection of critical infrastructure, guarantee personal privacy, and promote the development of universally accepted international rules with the participation, wide participation of all parties. Third, promote inclusivity and benefits for all. We need to set, step up financial, technical, and capacity building support for developing countries to help bridge the North-South gap. We need to foster an open, inclusive, all benefiting and non discriminatory environment for technology development and oppose overstretching the concept of national security and artificially erecting technological barriers. Fourth, unleash the AI dividends. We need to fully tap into the potential of AI to support the responses to global challenges in areas such as food, health, energy and climate change. The Security Council and UN missions should, in line with their own duties and mandates, leverage AI gradually and in light of local conditions, stay results-oriented and firmly safeguard the bottom line for security. China has always been a constructive participant in the global AI governance process. 23, the month of October, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative. And the resolution entitled Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity Building of AI sponsored by China was adopted by consensus at the 78th session of the GA. Subsequently, we proposed the AI Capacity Building Action Plan for Good and for All. And work with the establishment of, uh, the group of friends for international cooperation in AI capacity building, China has also issued its position paper. paper on regulating military applications of AI under the framework of CCW and will continue to participate fully in the discussions on lethal autonomous weapon systems and work for greater consensus. This year, China attended the AI Action Summit in Paris. We will continue to hold in Shanghai the World AI Conference All are welcome to this event in China to jointly shape a global AI governance framework that enjoys broad consensus. Thank you, Chair.

I would like to thank the representative of China for a statement. I now give the floor to.

The representative of Panama.

Thank you, Chair. Firstly, I would like to thank Greece, France and the Republic of Korea for having co-organized, with the support of Armenia, Italy and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this ARIA formula on a subject of such relevance, namely artificial intelligence. We'd also like to express our thanks to the distinguished briefers. Technological progress of all kinds, including artificial intelligence, has the potential to be a great accelerator of development. At the same time, these tools could significantly contribute to the strengthening and maintenance of international peace and security. These emerging technologies, as mentioned in resolutions 78/265 and 78/311 of the General Assembly, with inclusivity and transparency provide endless new opportunities for humanity. In this regard, we believe it is relevant to salute the various efforts that we have seen in various initiatives relating to artificial intelligence within and outside of the United Nations, such as the political declaration on responsible military use of artificial intelligence and autonomy, signed a few months ago by Panama and of course the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future supported by the majority of the membership of this organization. We'd also highlight many of the discussion fora that have opened up recently such as the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit that was held in Seoul last year, the Hiroshima AI Process and the recent AI Action Summit that was held in Paris amongst many others. All of these initiatives, in addition to highlighting the unquestionable attributes of artificial intelligence, reach a minimum consensus, namely that we need to establish rules for mitigating risks because international law as a whole must also develop in step with technical progress. This is why we reiterate the call for all applications of artificial intelligence, particularly in the military domain, to be carried out in strict adherence to the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law and human rights. Aware as we are of the multi-dimensional scope of this technology, for Panama, it's imperative that we have clear and universal guidelines that will guarantee human rights. In this context, we are very concerned to see the increasing use of artificial intelligence in disinformation campaigns and in the spread of hate speech. These phenomena not only worsen divisions in societies that are already polarized, but They also strengthen and have the potential to incite new conflicts. In this regard, and it's quite alarming to see, we are witness to how artificial intelligence has more than ever before facilitated the creation and spread of these kinds of narratives. We are particularly worried about this trend because historically the spread of hate speech has not only supported but in many cases has also paved the way for some of the worst atrocities committed by humanity. Also, more specifically with regard to international security, we would like to express our concern at the overall lack of global standards with regard to the use of AI in armed conflicts and in autonomous weapons. There are various reports alleging that the use of these technologies in the military domain is already a reality. Therefore, it's of great concern that algorithms based on predictions, even though this may be indirect, may have the power to influence or take decisions about human lives. This is a line that we cannot cross. Panama advocates for an ethical use and responsible use of artificial intelligence aimed at increasing international security based on the norms of international law. Allow me to conclude, Chair, by saying that although humanity is at a decisive juncture with regard to the forward march of AI, we're also seeing a growing sense of shared concern as well as multiple fora for dialogue taking place. Over and above our differences, we must steer this development and the use of this technology towards the common good. Thank you very much.

And now I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Chair, we would like to thank the briefers for their contribution to the discussion. We attach a great deal of importance to the development of advanced technologies which are to serve mankind, and this includes artificial intelligence. We think it's also important to discuss the military AI internationally. However, today, once again, we're being asked to consider the issue of artificial intelligence. a safe, inclusive and trustworthy intelligence in the context of the Security Council mandate. I would like to recall here that the use of artificial intelligence is not directly related to maintaining international peace and security and therefore is not part of the Security Council agenda. An attempt to consider this issue within the context of PKOs does not look convincing at all, and this is something that we also mentioned at previous discussions in the Council. Furthermore, the Security Council does not have the necessary level of expertise which would be required for a substantive consideration of the various aspects of this issue. There are other specialised multilateral platforms which exist for that, for example, so as to discuss the issue of computer attacks, we have a UN open-ended working group on international information security, this group is a universal mechanism dealing with the key aspects of, uh, ICT security, and this includes artificial intelligence. In order to discuss the military aspects of artificial intelligence, there are also other inclusive platforms, first and foremost, a group of governmental experts on the lethal autonomous weapons system working within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. We also have a Commission on Disarmament. This issue is considered there within the discussion of new technologies there. What is of principal importance here is that the open-ended working group, the group of governmental experts Laws, the Commission on Disarmament are consensus bodies which, unlike the summits on the responsible use of AI, ensures that the opinions of all states without exceptions are taken into account. Having read the concept note prepared by our Greek colleagues, it became clear that the main purpose of the meeting today is just to promote an approach to AI and emphasize the responsible use by the main developers in this area. When it comes to the non-inclusive summit on the responsible use of AI for military purpose organized by Western states, well, we are convinced that they're destructive in nature. We think it's unacceptable to refer to the Paris AI summit, which was a limited closed format, and the majority of developing countries were not invited. Such initiatives can hardly help with maintaining international peace and security. Such events and outcome documents do not take into account of all interested parties and cannot be considered as a basis for future work, the kind of work that is to reflect the common understanding of the issue. For example, the final declaration of the Paris summit we just mentioned, well, half of the states there declined to sign it. As regards the reference to the General Assembly resolution 79239, here we would like to point out that amongst the numerous resolutions in the past two years on the issue of artificial intelligence, including consensus ones. Um, questions arise as regards why is it that the organizer of the meeting decided to refer to this specific one? This document is not a consensus document for international community, but in addition to that, it's based on very questionable… criteria which do not exist in international law. As we already stated, we think it's artificial to link artificial intelligence and peacekeeping. Using artificial intelligence, including when it comes to disinformation, cannot tackle the current issue that peace operations are facing. The solutions here does not lie in being quick and effective when it comes to new technologies, but rather in making sure there is constructive interaction with the host countries and its people by taking on board their priorities and interests. In this regard, using AI so as to block unflattering messages towards the UN will not resolve the issue. Quite the contrary, in reaction to criticism about UNPKOs, it's important to explain its mandate, work with ordinary people using radio, TV, and social networks. Security Council request to use innovations for technical reasons is not needed. But the moment AI use is taken politically, the question arises as to who is controlling these programs and for what purpose are they used. We know that there's inequality between states in the world when it comes to new technology, some have, some don't. we would like to note that the authors are trying to focus on the noble goal of developing an international system of AI governance, the system which would ensure that AI does not take primacy over human beings and our values. And this premise is indeed shared by us all. But in practice, it turns out that this system of regulation proposed by the initiators of the meeting today is dangerous because it implies, distinction between good AI technologies and bad ones. And this is the crux of the issue. Who is going to determine which kind of use is responsible and which one isn't? So we end up here once again with a narrow group of countries without involving the absolute majority of member states. We're convinced that the attempts to stake out unilateral approaches to the issue of AI, including at the summits, circumventing multilateral fora, that such attempts will have negative consequences. And our position here remains unchanged, we support the coordinating role played by UN when it comes to the AI, we're ready to continue substantive works on all aspects of AI specialized platforms so as to arrive at decisions acceptable to all. But the attempts to make sure that at the level of Security Council, we have the approaches and stances used by individual states using such a process to replace international legal instruments, including through promoting non-inclusive formats and coalitions, will not take us closer to developing common approaches to the AE issues, including its military aspects. I thank you.

I would like to thank the representative of the Russian Federation for her statement.

Now, I give the floor to the permanent deputy representative of France.

Thank you very much, Excellencies, colleagues. I'd first of all like to thank the speakers for their briefings and welcome the initiative taken by Greece to organize this AREA formula meeting with which France is associated. Everyone, I think, understands the scale of the revolution introduced by artificial intelligence. AI and its potential to transform our societies, our economies and our institutions. The Security Council must study this matter in greater detail in order to better identify the opportunities and the potential risks as part of its mandate. And I'd like to share with you three messages. First of all, France is mobilized to build international, multi-actor, inclusive and sustainable governance of AI, putting this in the service of the general interest. There is a risk of IA development happening at different speeds throughout the world, limiting its access to the privileged few. collective responsibility is therefore to come up with a shared framework for governance, following the aspiration for an open, inclusive and safe AI that respects human rights and that is accessible to all. This ambition was at the heart of the AI Action Summit that was held in Paris last February, with the participation of more than 100 countries, governments, researchers, business people and representatives of civil society. The work of the summit made it possible for us to have inclusive discussions in order to define concrete solutions to place AI in the service of the general interest, in the interest of development and the sustainability of progress for all. This is the spirit of Current AI, a new global partnership for AI capacity building launched in Paris, aimed to raise a total of $2.5 billion over the next five years. Secondly, AI must respect international law and this must inspire us in our work at the UN. The Global Digital Compact adopted last September enables us to seize upon the opportunities offered by emerging technologies, including AI, whilst addressing the risks related to possible misuse. France calls for the rapid establishment of the independent scientific dialogue on AI governance that is referenced in the Global Digital Compact, and France fully supports Spain and Costa Rica that are co-facilitating this process. This new architecture will make it possible to share information on a common approach to AI. The work of the Security Council will undoubtedly benefit from this. France supports the initiatives and the processes aimed at including development of military AI in terms of respect for international law, particularly international humanitarian law. This is very important, particularly in the area of defence. at the summit in Paris for AI action we adopted a declaration supported by 27 states on maintaining human control over weapons systems involving AI in this declaration we affirmed our commitment to never transfer the decision of life or death to machines operating Beyond any human control and our willingness to continue to participate in multilateral dialogue on these issues France therefore is part of the RE-AIM process in its efforts to understand what is at stake in the military domain with regard to AI. We also supported the resolution on the responsible use of AI in the military domain presented to the first committee of the General Assembly by South Korea. We also call upon all States to submit contributions to the Secretary-General's report on the related challenge of lethal autonomous weapons systems. The bodies based in Geneva must carry out their mandate in this area, and France will spare no effort in this regard. My third point, as part of its mandate, the Security Council must contribute to governance activities of AI using its potential for the maintenance of international peace and security. The AI revolution has implications for the work of the Security Council. Its malevolent use make worse certain threats to which we must respond, for example if it is used to carry out disinformation campaigns that can harm peacekeeping operations or harm the legitimacy of the missions or affect their action. So, colleagues, whilst taking account of these emerging challenges, the Council and the subsidiary bodies must increase their efforts to make better use of the benefits of AI. The AI technologies have potential to provide valuable support, for example, to the monitoring of embargoes or to peacekeeping operations as they implement their mandates. In conclusion, France is prepared to contribute to the work of the Council to make progress for the responsible use of AI for the good of international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Deputy Representative of France for your statement.

I call to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sierra Leone thanks the delegations of Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for convening this important AREA Formula meeting, co-sponsored by Armenia, Italy, and the Kingdom of Netherlands. We also extend our appreciation to today's briefers for their insightful contributions. Artificial intelligence holds immense potential to support international peace and security when developed and applied ethically. If harnessed responsibly, AI can assist in addressing some of the root causes and consequences of conflict, including terrorism, food security, climate-related disasters, and fragile governance. AI is also susceptible to misuse. It must be developed and deployed in a manner that fully respects international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law, and is guided by ethical principles that place human dignity, agency, and equity at the center. In particular, We are concerned about the implications of generative AI in spreading disinformation, amplifying hate speech against women and minorities, and enabling cybersecurity attacks and information operations that erode trust in democratic institutions and public order. Improper or malicious uses of AI, including the creation of deep fakes or synthetic media, pose real risks to electoral integrity, freedom of expression, and the right to self-determination under the UN Charter. The use of AI to conduct surveillance or to repress dissent, including by non-state actors and armed groups, can further threaten national and international peace and security. From a security perspective, the development of AI-powered autonomous weapons and robotic systems, if acquired by terrorists or transnational criminal networks, could have destabilizing consequences, especially in fragile regions or conflict-affected states. The absence of human oversight in such systems also raises profound moral and legal questions. At the same time, we recognize the opportunities that AI can provide to strengthen peace efforts. AI can support enhanced decision making, early warning, and predictive analysis for conflict prevention and humanitarian response. It has already been used in some context to monitor ceasefires, detect patterns of violence, and help humanitarian agencies coordinate relief more effectively. AI-driven tools can also aid in combating trafficking and organized crimes. For these reasons, Sierra Leone affirms the African Union's position that artificial intelligence must be governed by frameworks that are open, inclusive, equitable, and trustworthy. The AU's continental artificial intelligence strategy and the African digital compact adopted in 2024 are timely and visionary. They emphasize responsible AI development aligned with regional needs and ethical imperatives. At the AU's Peace and Security Council meeting held on 19th March 2025, African member states reiterated the need for multilateral action to ensure AI promotes peace, security, and sustainable development on the continent. At the national level, Sierra Leone has taken proactive steps. We are party to the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection and have developed a national cybersecurity strategy that aligns with regional and global digital governance norms. This strategy emphasizes safeguarding digital infrastructure, regulating data access, and ensuring digital technologies do not become tools of exploitation or instability. We are also in the process of developing a national artificial intelligence framework with a focus on ethics, inclusion, and peace-oriented innovation. This framework aims to strengthen national institution capacity to understand, govern, and responsibly deploy AI. With the above said, Mr. Chair, allow me to share four key recommendations. First, in line with the interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach of the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future, we encourage international organizations to deepen engagement with governments, peacebuilders, civil society, academia, and the private sector to co-design AI systems that are tailored to promoting peace, development, and resilience. especially in post-conflict settings. Second, there is a need to establish global norms and principles that hold both states and non-state actors accountable for developing and deploying AI systems with foreseeable risk of undermining peace, fueling conflict, or violating international law. This must include safeguards against militarization of AI as well as accountability for misuse. Third, we are concerned that much of AI development and regulation remains concentrated in a small number of countries and private entities. We call on the United Nations to lead in shaping an inclusive and equitable governance architecture that addresses this imbalance. Measures must be taken to avoid entrenched digital inequality, algorithmic bias, and the concentration of AI capabilities in ways that exclude the global south. The pact for the future rightly emphasizes capacity building, technology transfer and equitable access as prerequisites for shared digital progress. Investing in AI literacy, digital skills and ethical innovation ecosystems in developing countries is essential for preventing asymmetries that could widen geopolitical or digital divides. Fourth, Despite the rapid uptake of AI technologies, there is a clear lack of empirical data on the extent and impact of AI applications in conflict settings. Sierra Leone calls for a comprehensive global mapping and risk assessment of AI use in military and peace and security domains. to inform appropriate regulation, safeguards, and cooperative frameworks. Mr. Chair, Sierra Leone also urges that all AI development be rooted in fundamental principles of transparency, fairness, inclusivity, accountability, and respect for human rights. Those designing the most advanced AI models must be vigilant in addressing algorithmic bias and discriminatory outcomes. Governments, developers, and civil society must work in partnership to ensure that new capabilities are aligned with the UN Charter and the Sustainable Development Goals. There is a fragile line between peace and instability. We believe that digital and emerging technologies, if governed with care, can help countries like ours build resilience and anticipate risk. But if left unregulated or monopolized, these same tools could magnify insecurity, misinformation, and inequality. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Sierra Leone reaffirms its commitment to working with member states, regional bodies, and the UN system to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a force for peace and progress, not polarization or conflict. Let us seize this moment to build inclusive global governance for the digital age where innovation supports humanity and technology reinforces the foundations of peace. I thank you.

Thank you, the representative of Sierra Leone for her statement. And now I give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, I would like to thank Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for organizing this timely and important AI formula on harnessing safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI for the maintenance of international peace and security. I extend our appreciation to Armenia, Italy and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their co-sponsorship. I also thank the briefers for their insightful and valuable contribution. Breakthrough advances in artificial intelligence we are witnessing offer great opportunity for transformation and development. These opportunities, however, will only be realized if AI is governed in a manner that is truly inclusive and equitable. For Africa, And for the developing world, AI is not merely a technological advancement, but a potential catalyst for leapfrogging development challenges and addressing pressing needs in healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. The current trajectory of AI development raises important questions about who benefits from these technologies and who shapes the rules that govern. While international initiatives on AI governance are advancing rapidly, we must ensure that these efforts do not widen existing technological and development gaps. Mr. Chair, when we discuss safe, inclusive, and trustworthy AI, we must acknowledge that inclusivity begins with the governance process itself. True inclusivity means ensuring that international frameworks for AI are co-created with meaningful input from developing nations. To that end, we offer the following recommendations. First, the initiatives supporting open, inclusive, and trustworthy AI must prioritize mechanisms for technology transfer and knowledge sharing that address local priorities while following global standards for responsible use. Second, the Security Council and the broader UN system should ensure that discussions about AI governance include dedicated pathways for participation by developing nations. Third, we propose that the establishment of an AI knowledge exchange initiative specifically designed to bridge the gap between technologically advanced nations and developing states. This initiative would facilitate not only technological knowledge transfer, but also exchange of perspectives on ethical framework, regulatory approaches, and policy best practices. The recent adoption of the General Assembly's Resolution 79-239 affirming that international law applies to AI systems, along with the establishment of an independent international scientific panel on AI governance are welcome development. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, The potential use of AI to contribute positively to international peace and security is significant. As the international community works to harness AI for the maintenance of international peace and security, we must ensure that the benefits of these technologies are universally accessible and that governance frameworks reflect global diversity of thought and experience. We call on all member states to join us in creating an inclusive approach on AI governance that recognizes the unique perspectives and needs of all nations. Only then can we truly harness the power of AI for the benefit of all humanity. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Somalia for his statements. And now I give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Chair. I'd like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to Greece for organizing this important discussion on AI and its implication for international peace and security. I also extend my gratitude to the briefers for their valuable insights. As highlighted in this concept note, numerous initiatives have been undertaken to ensure the responsible application of AI. From my country's perspective, we hosted the AI Seoul Summit last May and the RE-AIM Summit last September. Building on these efforts, we co-led the adoption of the first committee resolution 79/238 alongside the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This year, in order to advance and deepen discussions on the responsible application of AI in the military domain, Republic of Korea, together with Spain, the Netherlands, and the regional co-host, in collaboration with UNIDIR, will co-organize a series of RE-AIM regional consultations across different regions in this May and June. We look forward that these discussions will serve as a meaningful contribution to the third round of the RE-AIM Summit in Spain this September. Reflecting on this initiative, I'd like to highlight three points. First, we have seen significant progress in shaping our understanding of AI and its responsible use. Earlier discussions about AI were often dominated by fears of an AI apocalypse, with some advocating for regulation akin to that of the nuclear weapons. However, through continued dialogue, we have reached a more balanced perspectives. AI is neither inherently catastrophic nor entirely benign. AI is an enabling technology with both potential risk and opportunities, requiring approaches distinct from traditional disarmament or arms control that focus primarily on prohibition and regulation. Second, it is essential to operationalize principles affirmed in various initiatives such as human centricity, accountability, safety, security, and trustworthiness into action. By adhering to these principles, countries can build trust and ensure the responsible use of AI. Trust is a cornerstone for fostering international cooperation and compliance with emerging norms in this rapidly evolving domain. Lastly, the UN, including Security Council, should actively explore ways to integrate AI to enhance mandate implementation. For example, AI can be used to monitor and analyze situations evolving internally displaced persons, or to optimize humanitarian assistance and civilian protection during conflict. Additionally, predictive systems for water supply and deforestations could help identify potential sources of conflict between communities such as farmers and herders. In this regard, I'd like to introduce a smart camp project for peacekeeping operations a program that my country has been actively developing in cooperation with the UN Secretariat. These initiatives employs various technologies, including AI, to enhance situational awareness and resource management efficiency. We have already launched a pilot project within our peacekeeping unit deployed to the UNMISS and eager to share our experiences and lessons once it is completed. The Republic of Korea remains committed to continuing its proactive role in addressing the broader implication of AI on international peace and security. I thank you.

I would like to thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea for his statements. I now will deliver a short statement in my national capacity as Greece. I would like to thank particularly France and the Republic of Korea, our co-organizers, as well as Italy, the Netherlands, and Armenia for joining forces with us on this very important topic. Artificial intelligence is undeniably the most remarkable technological innovation of our times, and it's advancing so rapidly. that as the Secretary General has said, technology will never move in the future as slowly as today, creating tremendous opportunities but also complex challenges and risks for all humanity. My country, Greece, is committed to advancing a human-centric AI agenda, emphasizing transparency, ethical use, and accountability to ensure these powerful technologies enhance rather than diminish human rights and democratic principles. Dear colleagues, No one can deny the increasing interlinkages of artificial intelligence applications with the maintenance of international peace and security. We have seen so far many national, regional, and international initiatives leading to these conclusions. Very recently, in February 2025, the Prime Minister of Greece attended the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris and was one of the 27 leaders that endorsed the Paris Declaration on maintaining human control in AI-enabled weapon systems, by which it committed to develop, deploy, and use AI capability in the military domain in a responsible manner in accordance with international law, to engage in multilateral dialogue, and to encourage international cooperation in this field. Greece is currently preparing its national contribution to the report of the Secretary-General on the opportunities and challenges posed to international peace and security by the application of artificial intelligence in the military domain by virtue of the relevant General Assembly resolution. At the same time, the Greek Defense Ministry is organizing an international crisis management conference next May, which will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the use of AI in the military domain. Dear colleagues, the Security Council, being the primary body mandated with the maintenance of international peace and security, can no longer ignore the accumulating international consensus that is clearly reflected in many of the above-mentioned initiatives and declarations. In this vein, Greece supports the idea that the card should leverage the responsible use of AI to advance international peace and security. Let me mention a few examples. Firstly, the Council could explore the integration of all peace operation mandates of provision requiring the responsible use of AI applications in way to enhance safety and security of peacekeepers, to strengthen the protection of civilians, and to counter malicious cyber attacks, dissemination of hate speech and disinformation campaigns against peace operation. I cannot stress enough the need for all these AI applications to comply with the UN Charter and international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. Secondly, members of the Council should consider taking effective and realistic measures to ensure that emerging technologies and the accompanying competition does not destabilize international peace and security. In this respect, Greece takes note of the call of the Secretary-General for banning lethal autonomous weapons, and establishing new prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems by 2026. My country is ready to engage in the relevant discussion for its capacity as an elected member of the Security Council. In this vein, we support further discussion of those issues in the Council. Dear colleagues, to conclude, it is of utmost importance that the Council demonstrates unity, vision, and foresight on contributing to the global efforts for harnessing safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI for the maintenance of international peace and security. We hope that today's discussion will contribute to this end. I thank you. And now I resume my capacity as chair of the meeting, and now we give the floor to our co-sponsors, starting with the permanent representative of Italy.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Let me begin by thanking the delegation of Greece for convening today's AREA Formula meeting, which addresses a critical and timely topic. This initiative provides a valuable forum to deepen our collective understanding of how to effectively harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence while also addressing the significant risks it poses to international peace and security. The transformative potential of AI spans nearly every aspect of human endeavor, from economic growth and social progress to innovation and governance. However, the deployment of AI presents a dual-edged scenario for international peace and security. On one hand, AI holds great promise for enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations endorsed by this Council. Sophisticated AI systems can significantly strengthen logistical planning, enhance the accuracy and speed of threat detection, assist in predictive analytics to prevent conflict escalation, and optimize peacekeepers operational readiness through advanced training simulations. Nonetheless, despite these potential benefits, their integration into operational frameworks remains limited and demands increased attention and practical action. Conversely, AI technology carries profound risks, capable of exacerbating tensions, fueling conflicts, violent extremism, and radicalization through misuse or manipulation. Malicious actors may exploit AI-driven cyber capabilities to launch sophisticated cyber attacks against critical infrastructure, disrupt essential services, or sabotage democratic processes by spreading misinformation and deepfakes aimed at undermining public trust and political stability. Furthermore, the advancement and potential proliferation of autonomous weapon systems capable of operating without meaningful human oversight pose ethical dilemmas and severe security threats, fundamentally reshaping the nature and risks of modern warfare. It is crucial, therefore, that the international community actively collaborates to establish robust frameworks that ensure AI technologies are developed and deployed transparently and inclusively, including by sharing best practices. We also encourage more states to do so to ensure that military use of AI is responsible, complies with applicable international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and enhances international security. Multilateral and regional initiatives aimed at better understanding the implication of AI in the military domain are very useful. On our part, Italy is strongly engaged in the promotion of the responsible, inclusive, sustainable and ethical use of AI, recognizing the necessity of a shared commitment to a human-centered digital transformation in line with our shared democratic values and respect for human rights. As emphasized by Prime Minister Meloni in her address to the General Assembly of the UN last year, we need global governance mechanisms that ensure that technologies respect ethical boundaries and that technological evolution is at the service of humanity and not vice versa. The Italian presidency of the G7 has then translated the principles of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI into concrete and actionable policies, such as the Italian presidency's decision to establish the AI hub for sustainable development in collaboration with the UNDP, as well as a monitoring system of the Hiroshima Code of Conduct in collaboration with the OECD. Cooperation with the private sector, academia, and civil society is essential, to make sure that governance and regulatory frameworks take into account all relevant aspects of such a rapidly evolving technology. Attesting to Italy's commitment to the success of this approach, let me reaffirm our readiness to work with all member states and stakeholders to develop and strengthen the skills, processes, and resources needed to adapt to a fast-evolving AI space. Together, let us forge a path towards a future where new technologies serve as a force for good, bridging divides, enhancing global security and propelling us towards the sustainable development goals in line with the spirit of the Global Digital Compact. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Italy for his statement. And now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Chair. Let me start by.

Thanking your delegation, Greece, the Republic of Korea and France for organising this very timely AI4ML meeting. Artificial intelligence has groundbreaking implications for international peace and security. This is why the Kingdom of the Netherlands is honoured to co sponsor this AI4ML meeting. At the outset, we value the steep progress the UN and the international community have made over the past years in the field of AI, especially in the civil domain. Security Council areas, General Assembly resolutions and reports such as the Global Digital.

Compact and the High Level Advisory Body on AI.

Have brought us up to speed with the opportunities and the risks of AI. The Netherlands stresses the importance of developing AI in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Yet, more work is needed to develop a shared understanding of the implications of AI also in the military domain, in the context of international peace and security.

With that in mind, the Kingdom of the.

Netherlands and the Republic of Korea initiated a resolution on this, which the General Assembly adopted last December. The resolution mandates a Secretary-General report on AImD with Member States and stakeholder views. The report will serve as a solid multilateral and inclusive foundation for future efforts. Against this backdrop, we believe that the international community can benefit from the wide array of ongoing multi-stakeholder initiatives that discuss AI governance in a transparent and inclusive manner, as mentioned by the briefers. As an example, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea hosted two iterations of the RE-AIM Summit, with the first summit that took place in The Hague in February 23. And we are looking forward to the third summit hosted by Spain later this year. RE-AIM serves as an incubator for all stakeholders to exchange ideas and best practices. The outcomes, the call to action and RE-AIM blueprint could further enrich and deepen exchanges in UN fora. Chair, the Netherlands is concerned that AI could amplify cyber attacks in skill, speed and impact, as well as manipulate information. And in the long term, the widespread dissemination of disinformation and automated cyber attacks enabled by AI could erode trust between states and within societies, which can lead to unrest and could disrupt peacekeeping efforts and operations. And this is why this body should include AI as a topic in all relevant deliberations. We have to adapt to our time. In closing, the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains committed to the responsible development, deployment and use of safe, inclusive and trustworthy AI. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

Mr. Chair, at the outset, we would like to extend our appreciation to Greece France, and the Republic of Korea for organizing this AI Forum meeting, which Armenia is pleased to co-sponsor. The topic of today's meeting is timely and highly relevant, as we acknowledge the importance of international cooperation in the area of safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI for the maintenance of international peace and security. Emerging technologies, including AI, are dramatically changing our world, offering huge potential for progress, and playing important role as enablers of sustainable development. Recognizing the increasing global trend of developing and advancing AI capabilities, including AI integrated autonomous systems, our meeting emphasizes the necessity of ensuring that such advancements are regulated in strict adherence to existing international legal instruments. This approach is vital to mitigating the risks associated with the potential misuse of AI by irresponsible actors in ways that may violate international law. Armenia reaffirms that international law, particularly international humanitarian law and international human rights law, is fully applicable to the use of all weapon systems, including those incorporated AI and autonomous technologies. The military use of AI should be ethical, responsible and contribute to the enhancement of international security. We highlight the necessity of maintaining human responsibility and accountability for the use of AI applications in the military domain. Decision-making authority must rest with human actors, as accountability cannot be transferred to machines. The human judgment remains an indispensable element in the use of force, and it is crucial to uphold the responsibility while ensuring that states adhere to international law. attach great importance to developing the natural frameworks to assess the risk associated with the military applications of AI as well as to establishment of effective legal review procedures confidence building measures and mechanism for international cooperation to this end Armenia could sponsor the political declaration on responsible military use of AI and autonomy and endorsed the blueprint for action document resulting from Raim Summit 2024 earlier this year Armenia also endorsed the Paris declaration on maintaining human control in AI-enabled weapon systems. Mr. Chair, the responsible governance and development of AI requires effective partnerships, ethical oversight, and adherence to international law. Armenia stands ready to contribute to the global initiatives, including within the UN, to advance safe and trustworthy AI technologies that support peace, security, protection of human rights, and sustainable development. Thank you.

I'd like to thank the representative of Armenia for his statement. now we will continue the list of speakers. We have another 27 speakers in about an hour, so I think with this plea of short statements as possible, I think that everybody will have the opportunity to speak. So now I give the floor to Latvia on behalf of Nordic Baltic States, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I deliver this statement on behalf of Nordic and Baltic States, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Latvia. We welcome the initiative by Greece, France, and Republic of Korea and the co-sponsors to organize this meeting and thank the briefers for sharing their insights. Mr. Chair, artificial intelligence is transforming all dimensions in human life. It has the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs, unlock economic opportunities, and fast track progress towards achieving the SDGs. Considering its cross-cutting implications, AI must be developed, used, and governed responsibly and in the interest of all in a way that respects human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Adequate global norms and standards on AI are necessary to ensure that innovation supports and not undermines global security. We need to continue structured discussion at the Security Council, as well as in other relevant UN bodies, as mandated by the Pact for the Future, to deepen common understandings and agree on rules and principles as necessary. We welcome the ongoing consultations on a global dialogue on AI governance and establishment of the independent international scientific panel as agreed in the Global Digital Compact. Consultations should build upon relevant international initiatives, including recent summits in Paris, Seoul, and Bletchley Park. Let me outline three key principles regarding these deliberations. First, Our approach to AI must be guided by and in line with existing international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Human rights must be respected, protected, and promoted online and offline. Second, AI has to be human-centric. Human oversight, control, and accountability has to be preserved across its lifecycle to mitigate safety and security risks. Of particular concern to us is the potential of detrimental impact of AI on information integrity and its use for information manipulation. We need to seek ways how AI itself can assist efforts to counter disinformation. Third, Potential application of AI in the military domain demands particular attention. In addition to misuse, there are risks related to interalia unpredictability, data bias, and lack of accountability of AI systems. That said, AI can offer benefits such as improved response to cyber attacks, protection of civilians, and early warning, which is also relevant for UN peacekeeping. There is potential for AI to assist arms control and disarmament verification efforts. It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment of all aspects of the military applications of AI. The Council has a crucial role to play. Mr. Chair, an important track is related to the issue of the lethal autonomous weapons system called laws, in particular within the group of governmental experts of the CCW. We must clarify how IHL applies to laws to ensure that the development and use of laws is fully compliant. Furthermore, we support multilateral initiatives to define wider principles and norms for responsible military use of AI, including through the RE-AIM summit process. We are looking forward to summit in Spain to advance this discussion, especially on lethal and ethical considerations. To conclude, our countries are committed to safe, inclusive, and trustworthy AI as a step towards a future where technology reinforces our collective pursuit for peace and security. I thank you.

I would like to thank the representative of Latvia on behalf of Nordic Baltic States, and I give the floor to the representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia align themselves with this statement. Mr Chair, let me first thank you and the organisers of today's meeting, as well as the briefers, for their contribution. Emerging technologies, notably AI, and autonomy in weapon systems are already reshaping the landscape of conflict. The EU considers it imperative that we address these challenges by establishing principles, international norms and regulations anchored in human rights to ensure the responsible use and development of such technologies. Last September, we adopted the Global Digital Compact as part of the Pact for the Future. The GDC serves as the first ever comprehensive framework on digital governance and digital cooperation at the global level. Following that significant step, the EU remains determined to keep analyzing the applications of AI and other new technologies to achieve a balance between advantageous uses and the need to mitigate negative impacts in certain domains, including cybersecurity. We underline our commitment to uphold the international rules-based order in cyberspace and encourage its adherence, implementation and further development in line with international human rights and international humanitarian law. And with that in mind, we support cybersecurity capacity building to ensure that all responsible states can implement the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. The EU also encourages further engagement in dialogue and cooperation to address opportunities and challenges presented by AI in the military domain. We support efforts to exchange best practices and foster a common understanding of the legal and ethical implications, and we welcome recent international and regional initiatives. In this respect, let me recall that all EU Member States are signatories to the RE-AIM Blueprint for Action. We consider the RE-AIM process a success with its multi-partner approach involving governments, militaries, industry, NGOs and researchers. And we thank Spain for taking forward the RE-AIM process launched by the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea. We also thank France for hosting the Paris AI Action Summit earlier this year in February. Finally, Mr. Chair, a word on lethal autonomous weapon systems, LAWS. States bear a fundamental responsibility to ensure that the development, production, deployment and use of emerging technologies in this area must be in compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. The EU emphasises that human beings must make the decisions with regard to the use of lethal force, exert control over lethal weapon systems that they use and remain accountable for decisions over the use of force in order to ensure compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law, also taking into account ethical considerations.

I thank the Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union for her statements, and I give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank you and I think the co-sponsors for convening the meeting on all of those who contributed to the discussion, the technological and scientific developments are having a profound impact on international peace and security. General artificial intelligence is a highly autonomous form of AI and could, within a few years, match or exceed human capacities in most or all economically valuable cognitive tasks. It is therefore essential that the Council takes this into account. Last October, under the Swiss Presidency, the Council adopted a Presidential Statement aimed at better integrating the impact of scientific developments on international peace and security. We therefore welcome this meeting today, which aims to anticipate the impact of AI on the work of the Council. Switzerland would like to underscore three following points. First, artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and becoming increasingly accessible. However, it operates within a well-defined framework, that of public international law, including the United Nations Charter in its entirety. international humanitarian law and human rights law. This framework applies fully to AI, as we have repeatedly emphasized. Throughout two exhibitions that we organized with the ICRC, the digital dilemmas and deepfakes, Switzerland has used its council presidencies to raise awareness of digital risks such as disinformation and online hate speech while exploring how AI can help mitigate them. Second point, the multilateral system must not shy away from these developments, must fully exploit the constructive potential of AI. The Secretary-General's UNAT initiative for institutional reform provides an opportunity to integrate new technologies for peace in the work of the United Nations. AI can support this work, whether in peacekeeping operations or in the analysis of Council debates. We would also like to highlight the important contribution of UNIDIR's work in this area. And finally, we must ensure inclusive governance of AI. Last week, Switzerland signed the Council of Europe Convention on AI, which sets binding standards for transparency and non-discrimination. convention which was facilitated by Switzerland aims to reconcile innovation with the protection of fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law. We are also actively involved in UN processes to promote better global governance of AI. This includes our participation in discussions on the responsible use of AI in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security. We advocate for greater international engagement to develop robust and inclusive governance frameworks. The Council's discussions should build on these efforts without duplicating them. Switzerland is convinced of the importance of the Council's systematic consideration of these developments in order to anticipate threats to international peace and security and to define appropriate political responses. We will continue our engagement in the framework of existing international processes. I thank you.

I thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland for his statement.

Representative of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to you for convening this important meeting. The responsible use of AI is fundamental to supporting the maintenance of international peace and security. We therefore welcome this area forum meeting, which share a common understanding that AI… brings both opportunities and risks. It is necessary to mitigate these risks in order to leverage AI to its full potential and to ensure its security and trustworthiness. In this regard, I'd like to touch upon three points which Japan thinks critical to discuss AI. First, it is essential to make certain the rule of law prevails. and take appropriate measures throughout the entire life cycle of military AI capabilities, in particular, upholding human-centered principles and ensuring compliance with international legal obligations, particularly IHL. There is an urgent need to deepen the discussion and enhance international cooperation to ensure responsible use of AI in the military domain. In this context, we would like to express our support for relevant initiatives with a view to ensuring international security, stability, and accountability in accordance with international law obligations, including REAIM, Responsible AI in Military Domain, and political declaration on responsible military use of AI and autonomy. We also believe that group of governmental experts of CCW should continue to play a central role to establish rules for lethal autonomous weapon system. At the same time, we are engaging in relevant discussions in UN to make sure that there's initiatives related to AI applications in the military domain developing a synergistic and complimentary manner. Second, the rule of law and human security should serve as a foundation for the responsible development of the use of AI in wider areas, in particular when we face serious challenges of disinformation, which destabilizes international relations and pose threat to human rights. Third, we welcome the efforts by relevant UN organs to utilize AI for mediation and peacebuilding activities, as well as peacekeeping operations. Also, we believe that there is great potential for AI in the work of UN related to peace and security, including early warning system for conflicts, sanction implementation monitoring, and counter-terrorism activities. Mr. Chair, let me conclude by emphasizing that Security Council needs to continue systematically consider the impact of scientific and technological developments on international peace and security. Japan hopes that this area formula meeting will contribute to raising awareness and deepening understanding about these challenges. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Japan for his statements.

I now give the floor to the permanent representative of the Dominican Republic.

Thank you, Chair. Allow me to begin by thanking you and the countries that have organised this important meeting. There's no doubt that AI is an emerging technology and it's had an important effect on areas such as health, the economy, the automating of processes and decision taking, etc., etc. However, to the same extent, this does throw up challenges with regard to access to relevant information, loss of employment, access to the labour market and other ethical questions. Here, DR has adopted laws on e-commerce, for example, technology crimes. We also have a national AI strategy where we've included the principle of ethical governance and transparency and the ethical responsible use of this technology in the public administration. With regard to ethical governance, we'd like to inform you that the Dominican Republic will be headquarters for the third meeting on ethics in AI in Latin America and the Caribbean, a meeting to be held in October of this year. to have a debate on ethical governance. This ministerial meeting will aim to strengthen regional leadership and follow on from the 2023 summit. The commitment of my country is to promote policies aligned with the ethical guidelines of UNESCO on AI, and that's an organization that also co-sponsored this event. And as part of international cooperation on various occasions, the Dominican Republic has stressed the importance of strengthening the development of AI capacity, particularly for developing countries, to help achieve the SDGs. Chair, the use of AI in the military domain should be an essential part of our agenda, particularly with regard to the autonomous weapons and robotic algorithms, this represents new changes with regard to the use of these weapons and the threat to international peace and security. Here we welcome the efforts undertaken in the Group of Governmental Experts on Autonomous Weapons to bring about consensus on the use of AI in military applications. And we feel that that is reflected in the Paris Declaration to ensure that human, uh, um, control, uh, is maintained over these, uh, systems. Um, Chair, given the importance of this subject and the impact that it can have on global peace and security, the Dominican Republic welcomes the, uh, holding of discussions to prepare a treaty on autonomous weapons that will make it possible to regulate and supervise these systems and take into account the humanitarian issues related to the use of these kinds of weapons. Finally, the Dominican Republic reiterates its commitment to the principles that we share with regard to global peace and security, and we support the development of an AI that will ensure the well being of humanity. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic for his statement. And now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to begin by

thanking the permanent missions of Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for organizing today's ARIA Formula meeting. I also thank Special Secretary Mastrogiorgio and the other briefers for their contributions. The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming more than just our daily lives. It is shattering old paradigms and forcing us to rethink traditional approaches to maintaining international peace and security. On this occasion, the United Arab Emirates would like to share three points on how we can harness the extraordinary promise of this technology while minimizing the risks. First, harnessing safe, responsible, and trustworthy AI requires enhanced international cooperation, which ensures trust between global partners and helps to develop confidence building measures while strengthening the capacities of states. Capacity building partnerships between governments, the private sector, and academia must also be leveraged to deliver responsible knowledge sharing, training,

and technical support.

Such initiatives must be inclusive and ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women. Investing in women's AI knowledge and expertise will further strengthen their critical role in shaping AI-driven peace and security solutions. This is why in November 2024, the UAE hosted a training program for female policymakers and practitioners specifically to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to become leaders in cybersecurity governance and cyber diplomacy. Second, utilizing AI within decision-making systems for peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations is more crucial than ever. The integration of these tools holds significant promise for enhancing our ability to protect civilians and maintain peace and security in accordance with international

law.

As a force multiplier, AI tools can improve military and security domain awareness and complement human decision making. These tools can analyze and contextualize vast quantities of data and rapidly assess threats, as well as provide possible strategic and tactical solutions. They can also boost cost-effective interoperability, operational efficiency, and security, particularly in volatile environments. With that said, we must proceed cautiously. AI systems supporting UN peace operations need to be safe, secure, and trustworthy, and avoid perpetuating bias. Third, safeguarding information integrity must be a top priority when leveraging AI for good.

We should not underestimate the potential for the misuse of AI to manipulate information and generate

harmful content that could undermine UN peace operations.

At the same time, AI can also help detect, analyze, and respond to these challenges.

by monitoring online content in real time and providing early warning of information related threats, including coordinated mis and disinformation campaigns. AI can also be leveraged to enable proactive responses that maintain the credibility of peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. In this regard, AI tools can strengthen the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2686 on tolerance, peace and security, and assist UN peacekeeping and special political missions in their monitoring and reporting of hate speech, racism, and acts of extremism. Mr. Chair, none of us in this room can fully predict what the future holds for AI, or perhaps more importantly, what AI holds for our future. Nevertheless, It is our firm belief that by working together, we can ensure that AI becomes a powerful tool for preventing conflict, promoting stability, and building a more peaceful world for all. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates for his statement. And now I will give the floor to the Charg d'affaires of Croatia.

Thank you, Chair. We thank the permanent missions of France and the Republic of Korea, as well as co-sponsoring missions for organizing this meeting, as well as the briefers for their valuable insights. The rise of artificial intelligence in international peace and security presents both immense opportunities and significant risks. The same AI technologies that can predict disease outbreaks, optimize humanitarian aid distribution, and detect ceasefire violations can also enable autonomous weapons, supercharge disinformation campaigns, and exacerbate global inequalities. The international peace and security architecture we have built over decades is being tested by technologies developed over mere years. As these technologies grow increasingly powerful, we find ourselves in a critical juncture that demands immediate, coordinated action. Furthermore, because AI systems impact fundamental rights or international security, their development cannot occur in the shadows, nor can regulation be an afterthought. Nations have the right to understand a safeguard against technologies that could impact their sovereignty and their stability. Our actions, therefore, today shape the world for generations. To responsibly harness AI for global peace and security, three measures come to mind. One, clear ethical guidelines and standards for AI's use in security contexts to ensure accountability and trust. Two, inclusive governance and legal frameworks to provide transparency and prevent misuse. And three, mandatory impact assessments for high-risk AI systems alongside international cooperation to mitigate threats and maximize benefits. Croatia recognizes digitalization, including AI, as a priority. For us, addressing risks is not a barrier to innovation. It is its safeguard. We actively foster cooperation among governments, academia, industry, and all relevant stakeholders to create a responsible AI ecosystem. By setting clear boundaries, we can cultivate an environment where AI advances safely without sacrificing security for speed. Above all, AI must be rooted in human rights, freedoms, and values, ensuring it serves humanity rather than becoming merely a monument to machine efficiency. A proactive, collaborative approach is our best path forward to harness AI's transformative potential while securing a more peaceful world. I thank you, Chair.

I thank the CDA of Croatia for his statement, and now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Portugal.

Thank you, Mr. President. And let me start by thanking Greece and also France and Republic of Korea for convening this area formal meeting. The topic is pressing for several reasons. First, the challenges. The fast-paced advancement of artificial intelligence presents diverse challenges for both peace and security. AI will likely reinforce the destabilizing effects of existing advanced conventional capabilities, increasing the speed of warfare and compressing the due decision making timeframe. Second, the uncertainty of the impact of AI on a strategic level as geopolitical tensions increases. this negative dynamic as the race to develop AI enhanced weapons can hinder international efforts towards peace and stability. Also, the convergence of AI with developments on biology, quantum and cyber technologies is of high concern. Third, the potential for military purposes and also in the civilian domain. Regarding its military use, despite obvious benefits, The impact of the current AI capabilities may hinder a state's sense of security by lowering the threshold of armed conflicts and causing the risk of heightening the escalation of warfare. We support a two-tier approach that structures the debate into, on one level, discussions about the prohibition on certain types of autonomous weapon systems, and on another, to formulate regulations for those types of autonomous weapons systems that would not be covered by a prohibition. The civilian adaptation of AI also presents several risks such as accidental risks as generative AI could create a trust deficit and might undermine democratic systems, misuse risks that can arise from harmful unintended applications of AI such as deep fakes and AI enabled cyber attacks and structural risks with broader impacts such as the openness of AI technology leading to its widespread proliferation. Mr. President, these elements demand a concerted effort to establish a global governance framework that fully enables monetization, verification, enforcement, and compliance of AI technology. Let me underline the significant steps already taken, the adoption of the Global Digital Compact as part of the Pack of the Future, the first ever comprehensive framework on digital governments and digital cooperation at the global level. The ongoing negotiations for the establishment of an independent scientific panel on AI and global dialogue and on AI governance. The two UNGA resolutions on AI, UNESCO's recommendation on ethics of AI and the endorsement of REAIM Summit's Call to Action 2023 and its Blueprint to Action 2024, as well as the US Political Direction Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. Portugal is co-sharing with Canada its working group on accountability, which focuses on the human dimension. More recently, within the AI Action Summit in France, Portugal endorsed the Paris Declaration on maintaining human control in AI-enabled weapons systems. To conclude, Mr. President, AI increasingly affects all of us. Capabilities once hardly imaginable have been emerging at a rapid unprecedented pace at a time of great political tensions, bringing ethical, political, and legal issues that need a clear common minimum understanding from the global community. A responsible behavior, a humanistic approach to the military use of AI in accordance with international law and a meaningful human control along the entire life cycle of AI enabled systems is of essence. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Portugal for his statement. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for granting me the floor. and to Greece, France, and Republic of Korea for convening this area formula meeting. Mr. Chair, artificial intelligence represents a transformative force with unparalleled potential to drive human progress and societal development. In recent years, an international consensus has emerged advocating for a digital transformation that is inclusive, human-centered, and anchored in shared democratic values and human rights. For small island nations like Timor-Leste, focusing AI initiatives on principles of openness, inclusivity, and trustworthiness is imperative. Timor-Leste underscores the importance of ensuring transparency, equity, and accountability in AI applications to mitigate risk and prevent misuse. These principles contribute to fostering international peace and security through promotion of global cooperation and knowledge shared to harmonize ethical AI standards, addressing discriminatory algorithms and biases that exacerbate inequalities and tensions, and building trust among nations, ensuring that AI is developed for collective peace rather than competition or hostility. These safeguards are essential to preventing the misuse of AI, such as autonomous weaponry, which poses serious threat to international stability. Mr. Chair, applying international law to AI provides a solid foundation for its responsible use in advancing peace and security. Within the UN system, including the Security Council, AI presents opportunities for transformative solutions, including analyzing extensive data sets to foresee potential conflicts, enabling early intervention and prevention measures, enhancing logistics and resource management for UN peacekeeping operations, reducing inefficiencies and human error. monitoring compliance with international treaties and promptly identifying violations, supporting justice and accountability. Timor-Leste believes that the UN can lead by example in using technology for global benefit by aligning AI applications with principles such as sovereignty, non-interference and human rights. Mr. Chair, One pressing challenge AI possess is its impact on information integrity, mainly through cyber attacks, hate speech and disinformation campaigns. Addressing these issues requires practical responses, especially within the context of UN peace operations, such as deploying AI driven tools to detect and neutralize cyber threats, ensuring the protection of critical systems, developing algorithms to identify and remove harmful content while safeguarding freedom of expression, utilizing AI to verify information sources and fact check disseminated content, countering false narratives exacerbating conflicts. Timor-Leste also recognized the importance of capacity building initiatives in vulnerable regions, empowering local communities to counter misinformation and foster societal stability. The responsible use of AI is not merely a technological imperative, but a shared moral and ethical obligation. By advancing inclusive initiatives, aligning AI with international law, and addressing threats to information integrity, AI can become a powerful ally in promoting global peace and security. Realizing its transformative potential requires collective efforts and an unwavering commitment to our shared values for the betterment of humanity. I thank you.

Thank you, Chair. I wish to thank Greece, France and the Republic of Korea for organising today's meeting on this important subject.

Artificial intelligence is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed.

It is also being adopted and deployed very rapidly and in scale. We also know that this transformative technology is substantially impacting every aspect of human life. It is reshaping our polity, our economy, our society, and even our security.

Speaking recently at the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust. India's position articulated in Paris during the AI Safety Summit and during India's leadership of the Global Partnership of AI and of the G20 highlights the need for governance and for standards to be human-centric. Governance and standards should take into account deep interdependence across borders, promote innovation, and ensure that AI is deployed for global good and in a manner that makes its benefits accessible to all especially for countries in the global south. There are both risks and benefits flowing from the growing adoption of AI and other emerging technologies. India recognizes that the use of AI in the military domain poses ethical, legal, and security challenges. India supports collective global efforts to appropriately regulate the development, deployment, and use of AI in the military domain. These efforts should address legal and ethical concerns and the identification and mitigation of risks associated with military AI. India is committed to responsible AI in the military domain. India is developing a framework for evaluating trustworthy AI in the defense sector to address the complex challenges and mitigate risks posed by modern AI technologies.

The framework is centered on five key principles.

One, reliability and robustness. Two, safety and security. three, transparency, fourth, fairness, and fifth, privacy. These principles provide a foundation for further discussions to appropriately regulate the development, deployment, and use of.

AI in the military domain. India participates actively and constructively in multilateral processes related to impact of AI on international security through the Disarmament Commission.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, through UNGA-mandated working groups on outer space, on ICTs, and under the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and relevant non-proliferation export control regimes. We have voted in favour of the UNGA resolution 79/239. We have also participated in the Hague and Seoul RE-AIM summits, and in meetings related to the political declaration on responsible military use of AI and autonomy. I thank you, Chair.

I would like to thank the Permanent Representative of India for his statement. And now I give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Excellency, for giving me the floor. Distinguished colleagues, I would like to extend my profound gratitude to Greece, France, and Republic of Korea for convening this important area formula meeting that brings together member states to address the nexus between artificial intelligence and global security. The international community stands at a pivotal moment where technology evolution overlaps with our common and shared responsibility to peaceful world. The pact of the future that we adopted few months ago recognizes the rapid technological changes presents both opportunities and challenges to international peace and security with international law serving as our guiding framework we remain confident that this meeting holds particular significance as we navigate the dual imperatives of technological advancement and security In this regard, we would like to focus our attention on the three following aspects. One, when AI aligned with national priorities and promotes digital sovereignty, it turns into a catalyst for sustainable development and effective crisis response. Two, international community is called to focus more on capacity building programs while joining AI for early warning systems and humanitarian response.

Three.

Solid protection against information warfare is indispensable as disinformation campaigns exploit divisions and undermine democracies. In this regard, we need enhanced capabilities to identify and counter such threats, particularly in contexts where information manipulation can ignite violence. To conclude, the path forward requires strong multilateral cooperation grounded in shared values, but responsive to diverse needs. As we build this structure together, let us ensure it amplifies innovation while protecting the future generations from their potential harms. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank the representative of Morocco for his statements. And now I give the floor to the deputy representative of Qatar.

Mr. Chair, I extend my sincere appreciation to Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for convening this important meeting and extend my gratitude to Armenia, Italy, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for co-sponsoring this event. I also thank the briefers for their valuable insights. The state of Qatar established the Artificial Intelligence Committee in 2021. This committee is tasked with coordinating AI initiatives across various sectors, ensuring alignment with national objectives, and promoting the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies. It plays a crucial role in implementing the national artificial intelligence strategy, which aims to leverage AI to advance the state of Qatar's economic prosperity and prepare for the effective adoption of AI technologies. Our commitment is further exemplified by hosting significant global events such as the Web Summit in February 2024 and 2025, and the Mobile World Congress in Doha over the next five years in partnership with Global System for Mobile Communications Association. Notably, the MWC marks its inaugural presence in the MENA region. Serving as a testament to regional innovation and international collaboration in emerging technologies, we believe AI can be a catalyst for peace, enhancing early warning systems, peace making capabilities, and mediation tools, yet the misuse of AI through AI enabled cyber attacks, disinformation, or militarization poses serious risks. To address this, the State of Qatar established the National Cybersecurity Agency and launched the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2030, alongside regional cooperation through the active role in the Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial committee overseeing the launch of the GCC Cybersecurity Strategy for 2024-2028, launched in Doha in November 2024 during the State of Qatar's presidency of the GCC. On the international front, the state of Qatar supports UN General Assembly 79239, which reaffirms the applicability of international law to all stages of the AI life cycle, particularly in military context. We welcome the forthcoming report with the SG on AI and endorse the establishment of both an independent international scientific panel on AI and the global dialogue on AI governance. The current efforts to define the terms of reference and modalities for those initiatives will foster a comprehensive understanding of AI risks, opportunities, and governance mechanisms. The State of Qatar commends this intergovernmental process and aligns itself with its objectives, recognizing the importance of inclusive and multidisciplinary collaboration in shaping the AI global landscape. The United Nations, especially the Security Council and the General Assembly, plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible global AI governance. We advocate for continued discussions on the use of AI, the establishment of international legal frameworks and mechanisms to ensure human oversight in AI enabled systems, particularly in the military context. Mr. Chair, as we navigate the complexities of AI, it is essential to uphold ethical responsibility and global collaboration. The State of Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to the safe, inclusive, and trustworthy deployment of AI, envisioning it as a cornerstone for international peace, sustainable development, and shared responsibilities. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of Qatar for his statements. I would like to make an announcement. The Secretariat's interpreters were gracious enough and they have agreed to prolong the meeting till a quarter past six. That means that we have 16 speakers left, so if all of those speakers can limit themselves to two minutes' intervention, we will have half an hour, so I think that everybody can speak. I really make a plea to all of you colleagues just to give the opportunity to everyone to express themselves. We are almost there. Having said that, I give now the floor to the Permanent Representative of Poland.

Mr. Chair, let me start by thanking Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the co-sponsors for convening this meeting. It is commendable that you have brought us here today to address a topic that bears broad implications for international peace and security. I also thank the briefers for helping us in that. Mr. Chair, the rapid development of the AI technology affects all areas of public life. While offering benefits, AI also comes with risks. including security threats and disinformation. Let me stress the necessary states must maintain control over use of force decisions as AI systems are prone to errors and manipulation. The concern extends beyond the direct AI use in attacks, propaganda or human rights violations. It affects economic and social development and lasting peace. Therefore, we must spare no effort to establish international rules governing AI. The momentum is gathering now. The work of the UN is vital and is much appreciated in this regard, and in the adoption of the Global Digital Compact in a case in point. We hope that along with the UNGA resolution on the AI in the military domain, the compact will serve as a framework for more in-depth work on this matter as long as the other initiatives that were mentioned today in the different interventions. Mr. President, when it comes to harnessing AI for maintenance of international peace and security, two aspects require particular attention first, the consequences of AI for international disarmament efforts, and second, a possible impact of AI on international regulations concerning weapons of mass destruction. These issues are interconnected and we believe that UNODA can identify the nexus between disarmament and AI. Mr. President, irrespective of various threats posed by AI, Poland has no intention of demonising it. On the contrary, as a current ECOSOC member, we promote digitalization as a mean of strengthening institutions and access to public services. New technologies could help reduce inequalities, especially in education, health services, and job opportunities. Nonetheless, while accelerating progress in digital transformation, we must remain agile. As the generative AI is evolving by leaps and bounds, disinformation, hate speech, and harmful content are produced and spread in a blistering pace. Thus, timing is crucial. We need to focus on joint efforts on promoting cyber hygiene and the skillful use of new media worldwide. To conclude, let me reiterate that only through the integrated approach by all states and partners, be it towards disarmament or social economic digitalization, can we achieve safe, inclusive, and trustworthy AI. And I thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope I was brief enough for the sake of the flow of the debate.

Thank you.

I would like to thank the Permanent Representative of Poland, and especially for being brief. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Cape Verde.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allow me to start by thanking the organisers and the briefers for their valuable insights. The rise of malicious cyber attacks, hate speech and disinformation campaigns poses significant challenges to maintaining information integrity, particularly within UN peace operations. 70% of UN peacekeepers said in a survey that mis- and disinformation had severe, critical or moderate impact on their works. We all witnessed what happened to MINUSMA. The UN must prioritize developing AI AI technologies that can detect and prevent the spread of disinformation and hate rhetoric, while simultaneously addressing concerns of surveillance, privacy, respect for international law, human rights and the sovereignty of countries hosting peacekeeping missions. Practical response includes enhancing cyber defence systems using AI for real time threat analysis and promoting digital literacy and media ethics among vulnerable, exposed and easily manipulated populations. Through effective collaboration between the UN tech companies, IE can be used to strengthen the information ecosystem by ensuring the dissemination of reliable and fact based content, while mitigating the risk of malicious actors exploiting AI for destabilization. Responsible AI aligned with international norms is a useful tool to ensure that peacebuilding efforts are not undermined by technological misuse. When trustworthy AI systems are developed and deployed, Transparently, inclusively, and ethically, they reduce risks of conflict and promote human rights. AI frameworks that prioritize fairness, accountability, and accessibility build trust, prevent misuse, and contribute to peace efforts by fostering social cohesion and mitigating inequalities that could fuel unrest. The challenge lies in aligning AI use with international law and respect for sovereignty while also ensuring the protection of human rights. This way, the UN can better anticipate conflicts, improve decision-making, and enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. AI can indeed play an instrumental role in conflict prevention. peacekeeping and post conflict reconstruction. It can be used for predictive analysis to mitigate the risk of civilian casualties, monitoring ceasefires, supporting peacekeepers, for example, with smart camps, protecting them through integrated base defense systems and ultimately enhance their safety on the ground. In conclusion, AI can be a powerful ally in building peace, enhancing security, and promoting a just global order. However, this requires clear and transparent guidelines for its use. careful governance, cross-border collaboration and a steadfast commitment to human rights and ethical principles. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Cape Verde for her statement. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

AI is already reshaping our world, offering great opportunities but also serious risks. We understand that multi-stakeholder approach places everyone in charge of regulating AI, but we should keep in mind that when everyone is in charge, no one may be sitting in the driver's seat. To manage this reality, we must learn from the past. History provides us with a strong example, the rise of nuclear energy. much like AI today, presented both great potential and serious dangers. It took nine years to transition from United Nations Atomic Energy Commission to establishment of International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, in 1957. We must acknowledge that this was a pivotal moment in global governance ensuring that nuclear technology was used peacefully while preventing its misuse. This approach teaches us valuable lesson. A similar international body for AI focused on transparency and accountability and cooperation could reduce risk and promote responsible innovation. Bosnia and Herzegovina fully support the creation of an international regulatory framework for AI. We need to make sure that AI is developed and used in ways that respect human rights, international law, and global suffering. It is clear what we need to be done, but the question remains open who will take on which roles, while leading entity coordinates a multi-stakeholder alliance to shape regulatory environment for more robust and beneficiary AI. The stakes are too high for inaction, just as an IAEA has worked to protect nuclear security, a strong international framework for AI, sometimes like International Artificial Intelligence Agency, IAIA, easy to remember, can ensure that this powerful technology benefits humanity instead of posing a threat. In conclusion, once again, thank you, Mr. Chair.

One minute, fifty-five seconds. I would like to thank wholeheartedly the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina for sticking to the two minutes rules minus.

And I now give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain.

Thank you very much, Chair. Thank you to your delegation and to France and the Republic of Korea, as well as the cosponsors and the panellists for their initial briefings. I'd like to highlight, as other speakers have done, that AI offers significant opportunities for international peace and security, including prevention of conflict, helping in peacekeeping operations, but also there are significant risks that have been mentioned by many delegations, such as disinformation or the irresponsible use of autonomous military technology. That's why my country feels the best answer here is international inclusive governance based on ethical principles and respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. I'd like to very briefly refer to two initiatives, two processes where Spain is playing a leading role. The first one has been referred to by many delegations. That's co facilitating with Costa Rica the intergovernmental process within the General Assembly for the establishment of an independent international scientific panel on AI and the global dialogue on AI governance. This implementing the global digital compact. And another initiative that many delegations have referred to is the third RE-AIM summit that will take place in September in Spain, working together with the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea. This summit will be key to moving on from the general principles towards concrete operational actions guaranteeing the responsible use of AI in defence. uh this process is multi actor and uh this is helped by Regional consultations to ensure that uh we hear from inclusive and representative voices finally Spain would like to see an inclusive transparent and effective multilateral approach respecting human rights and the govern in the governance of AI in order to contribute towards a safer and responsible use of this technology that will contribute to strengthening uh International peace and security thank you very much.

I thank the deputy

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We welcome this initiative and we extend our appreciation to the organizers, the co-sponsors and the briefers. As we explore potential improvements on efficiency and effectiveness in conducting future UN peace operations, but also on enhancing the UN role in maintaining the international peace and security, AI-based technologies and systems could play an important role as enablers of our activities, boosting productivity and accuracy. AI technologies can provide more effectiveness and more predictive capacities in assisting training, mapping, and analyzing big data, all critical areas for peace operations. But as we are all aware, AI, just like any other digital technologies, comes with opportunities that we should make good use of. challenges that we have to overcome, and risks that need to be mitigated. In order to avoid but also mitigate risks, we need to encourage the development and use of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI in a responsible manner. In this respect, to avoid the misuse or the online use of this technology, the respect of human rights and international law is paramount. When it comes to challenges, while AI has made impressive advancements, there are still several areas in which it cannot yet match the human abilities, such as long-term planning and strategic thinking in unpredictable environments, contextual understanding and ambiguity resolution, ethical and moral reasoning, intuition, and raw innovation. As for the opportunities offered by the non-military AI technologies in investing international peace and security, we recognize the practical value of AI tools in collecting open data to map fake news and disinformation that can impact UN peace operations and its contribution in synthesizing and analyzing this data. The same technology can also be used to counter propaganda and disinformation campaigns. Furthermore, the responsible use of AI technologies could help monitoring border activities and support predicting potential conflicts by analysing social and economic indicators.

I thank you.

I thank the representative for Romania for her statement. And now I give the floor to the deputy permanent representative of Cyprus.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We also thank the co-organizers for convening this meeting and the BIFRS for their contribution. Cyprus aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Cyprus is committed to harnessing AI for public good, economic growth and innovation, while ensuring ethical, inclusive and transparent governance aligned with EU international standards. Transparency and inclusivity in AI development help prevent misuse that could threaten political stability, democracy, human rights, and international security. Such initiatives directly address algorithmic biases protecting ethnic, religious, and minority groups from disproportionate harm. International ethics standards foster trust among nations and mitigate risks associated with cyber intrusions or AI-enabled military capabilities. building on these initiatives and in recognizing that international law applies to AI, Cyprus believes that the UN, through the Security Council and related bodies, can advance responsible AI usage by promoting robust regulations to deter malicious activities, including autonomous weapons deployment, cyber warfare, and disinformation. As outlined in the Global Digital Compact, Cyprus underscores the importance of international cooperation, legal compliance, and ethical accountability. At the same time, we support AI-driven solutions that reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints while fostering environmentally responsible innovation. To that end, we support the Coalition for Sustainable AI, and we emphasize the need for policies that align AI development with global and EU-specific sustainability goals, enhance partnerships among the UN, governments, technology sectors, and civil society are essential for developing frameworks to preserve information integrity, thereby effectively countering extremism and hate speech. Collectively, these efforts reinforce international peace, security, and compliance with international humanitarian law. I thank you.

I thank the Deputy Representative of Cyprus for her statement. Colleagues, we have 10 minutes and we have literally 10 speakers. So I make a plea to all of us, no one should be left behind, so let's try to have everybody spoken this evening. Thank you so much. And now I give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We thank Greece, France, and the Republic of Korea for convening this very important meeting, and we also thank the briefers. Let me very briefly highlight the following points. First, AI offers ample opportunities to enhance UN peace and security efforts. On the other hand, AI can also be used maliciously for cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns. Therefore, collective action is crucial to address these challenges. It is key that all countries and regions are involved in the AI discussion on an equal footing. The global digital compact's implementation is a vital component of this joint effort. Second, we believe a human rights based approach and human centered approach must always be at the heart of the discussions on AI. Apart from the Global Digital Compact, the Council of Europe's Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law stands as the first international treaty open to all for accession. Third. Compliance with international law must be ensured throughout the life cycle of any weapon system, including of those based on AI. To this end, we must continue to actively engage. Germany was a member of the core group of the AI and the military domain resolution in 2024, and we look forward to examining and following up on the UN Secretary General's upcoming report on military AI. Finally, I would like to highlight the upcoming UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin. The high-level political discussions on the future of peacekeeping will include opportunities to explore how new technologies such as AI can enhance the effectiveness of UN peace operations, improve the safety and security of peacekeepers, and promote information integrity in mission contexts. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Germany for his statement. I now give the floor to Kazakhstan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, Kazakhstan commends Greece, France, the Republic of Korea, as well as Armenia, Italy, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for convening this important meeting on artificial intelligence, a transformative force that holds both immense promise and grave peril for international peace and security. Artificial intelligence is transforming our societies at an unprecedented speed. In just two decades, digital technologies have impacted half the population in developing countries, helping bridge gaps in access to services and reduce inequality. AI offers vast potential for progress, but also serious risk to international peace and security. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that AI is not weaponized through autonomous lethal systems, cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, for disinformation that undermines trust and stability. Simultaneously, we must address algorithmic bias, discrimination, and unfair surveillance. The criminal and terrorist misuse of AI, including identity theft and fraud, makes this not only a technical issue, but a geopolitical one. Kazakhstan supports a responsible globally coordinated approach to AI governance. We actively contribute to the United Nations open-ended working group on ICT security and welcome the launch of the points of contact directory to help member states respond to cyber incidents. Active work is also taking place at our national level. Recently, Kazakhstan has established an artificial intelligence and innovation committee. drafted legislation on AI to support innovation and ensure ethical use, plans to open Alim AI, a dedicated international AI center in Astana. Furthermore, we must strongly support the Secretary General's Global Digital Compact, the high level advisory body on AI and the roadmap on digital cooperation. Kazakhstan reaffirms its commitments to working closely with all member states, the private sector, civil society and academia to harness AI for good and correct in the principle of peace, security and sustainable development. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Kazakhstan for his statement. I now give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Austria aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We are grateful to the co-organizers, France, Greece and the Republic of Korea for initiating this timely conversation, and I would also like to thank the briefers for their valuable insights. Austria has been guided by a human rights-based and human-centric approach in discussions related to AI. To this end, Austria, together with the Republic of Korea and others, has spearheaded initiatives in the Human Rights Council and co-sponsored the resolution AI in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security in the first committee. A fundamental concern is the risk of humans losing control over the use of force, while it is humans who will bear the consequences of armed conflict. Our inability to urgently adopt legal rules for autonomous weapon systems is disconcerting. A global conference in Vienna in April last year fleshed out the security concerns among humanitarian, legal and ethical concerns. The upcoming informal consultations on lethal autonomous weapon systems tabled by Austria with a cross-regional group of co-sponsors will be an opportunity to further elaborate on the security considerations in reference to the Secretary-General's report on laws. Since 2021, Austria has been a strong supporter of the strategy for the digital transformation of UN peacekeeping. And we also have to be aware of AI's downsides, particularly in funneling mis- and disinformation. And finally, We fully support the UN's global principles for information integrity to guide technology companies, AI actors, governments, and the UN in their efforts to protect information integrity and to establish standards based on international law. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the DPR of Austria for his statements. I give now the floor to the Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We want to express our sincere gratitude to Greece, France, and South Korea, and other co-sponsors for organizing this very timely event. Mr. Chair, the Philippines recognizes artificial intelligence as a transformative technology with profound implications for international peace and security. As a co-sponsor of the recent General Assembly resolution on artificial intelligence in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security, We approach this discussion with both optimism about AI's potential benefits and serious concern about its risks. We firmly affirm that existing international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, human rights law, applies fully to AI applications in the military domain across their entire life cycle. This foundational principle must guide our collective approach. Philippines believes that the use of AI in military applications should be guided by clearly defined principles of behavior, existing international norms, and the values upon which these norms are based. However, we maintain that these guidelines should not impede the development and adoption of legally binding rules governing the use of AI in military contexts. Building on our hosting of the Manila meeting on Indo-Pacific perspectives on autonomous weapon systems in December 2023, the Philippines supports a human-centric, accountable, safe, secure, and trustworthy framework for military AI applications with appropriate safeguards, particularly ensuring meaningful human judgment and control over the use of force. While acknowledging potential opportunities in enhancing compliance with international humanitarian law, civilian protection, we remain concerned about humanitarian, legal, security, technological, and ethical challenges, including algorithmic biases and the risk of proliferation to non-state actors. The digital and AI divides between developed and developing nations require urgent attention. We call for enhanced international cooperation, capacity building to harness the benefits of AI's advancements and to ensure all states can participate meaningfully in discussions and military AI applications in their governance. The Philippines supports multilateral dialogue in appropriate forums to develop shared understanding and norms on AI. We encourage multi-stakeholder approaches involving states, international organizations, civil society, academia in the private sector to address these complex challenges. Mr. Chair, the Philippines is committed to working with all stakeholders to harness AI's benefits while minimizing its risks through responsible development, deployment, and use of AI in the military domain. Only through inclusive, collaborative efforts can we ensure AI contributes positively to international peace and security rather than undermining it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of the Philippines. We have now one, two, three, four, five, six speakers and four minutes. If I can make a plea to those who are speaking, to those brave women and men who are interpreting us, if we can allow these six speakers to finish, I would be personally, and I think the co-organizers, everybody else, would be personally happy. But please, everybody be brief as possible. I will just announce names and not courtesy. provisions. So Ukraine.

Chair, Ukraine is grateful to Greece, France, the Republic of Korea, and other co-sponsors for convening this timely area formal meeting. We also extend our appreciation to all briefers for their remarks. Ukraine fully recognizes the potential opportunities and benefits as well as risks of AI, including in the military domain. In the defense sector in particular, AI can collect, process, and analyze large volumes of intelligence data in the real time, in the command to make decisions faster, coordinate multi-level processes, facilitate operational decision-making, and enhance situational awareness on the battlefield. At the same time, it is crucial to ensure responsible and ethical application of AI, which should include human-centric, accountable, safe, secure, and trustworthy AI used in compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Ukraine also wishes to highlight the risks associated with the AI. The active use of AI can lead to a new arms race between countries in the development of innovative autonomous weapon systems. It can also lead to loss of human control over critical processes, which in turn could lead to incidents. It could be used for conducting disinformation campaigns. It could also increase the threat of large scale and more sophisticated cyber attacks. To conclude, Chair, Ukraine welcomes the ongoing discussions on AI across the UN system, including within the UN Security Council. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Ukraine, Brazil.

Thank you, Mr. President. I will also skip the greetings. Mr. President, we share the concern about the rapid evolution of AI and their application in the military domain. We've expressed these concerns both in the Security Council during our last mandate, as well as in other forums, such as the open-ended working group on ICT security. the Back to the Future negotiations, first committee, and regional events. Brazil has consistently stressed the importance of adherence to international law and international humanitarian law and the need to maintain meaningful human control so as to retain accountability for any military action. We have also insisted on transparency throughout these technologies' life cycle. At the same time, we have cautioned against excessive securitization of this issue, which has applications far and beyond the military domain. Brazil remains concerned about Security Council being suggested as the appropriate venue for these discussions. The breadth of this topic, which seems to touch on almost every aspect of peace and security, calls for a comprehensive and inclusive discussion, which is best had in the General Assembly. No doubt the Council has a role in responding to specific breaches of peace and security involving artificial intelligence. But the forward-looking and general discussion on what types of AI we want to support is not best handled in this organ. In this spirit, Brazil was an active member of the core group of resolution 79239, artificial intelligence in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security. It represents the important first step towards addressing many of the topics before us today. It further stresses the applicability of the UN charter, international law, and international humanitarian law to all stages of the life cycle of artificial intelligence. Brazil strongly encourages all members here to contribute their views to the SG's report contained in that resolution so that we can advance this discussion in an inclusive and substantive manner. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Brazil. Azerbaijan, please.

Thank you, and thank you to the co-organizers. Azerbaijan recognizes the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across a wide range of sectors. and continues to prioritize technological advancements for national and regional development, particularly in pursuit of lasting peace and stability. To that end, in March of this year, the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, signed an executive order approving the Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025-2028. The strategy aims to accelerate AI adoption in Azerbaijan, encourage scientific research in this field, improve AI-related technologies, infrastructure, and management systems, and expand the pool of qualified professionals. Azerbaijan is also actively exploring AI applications in post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction, particularly using the technology in its humanitarian demining efforts. Specifically, AI-powered technologies accelerate demining operations by allowing precise mapping of minefields, helping us address one of the greatest humanitarian challenges in the region. Mr. Chair, Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to harnessing the responsible and ethical advancement of AI, ensuring that the technology aligns with the principles of international peace and security. To that end, we advocate for inclusive governance structures that promote transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in AI applications. This commitment is essential to prevent the misuse of AI and to safeguard the integrity of our societies. By fostering multilateral dialogue, we can ensure that artificial intelligence contributes to a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous world. Azerbaijan stands ready to actively contribute to this endeavor. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank Azerbaijan for its statement. Although we have only three speakers left, we have reached the ultimate time limit. I was informed by the collegial secretariat that unfortunately we cannot give the floor to the three remaining delegations. We are sorry about this, but I want to thank our interpreters for exceeding their time limits. Please, let's give them a big round of applause to our interpreters. In the name of our co-organizers, France and Republic of Korea, and co-sponsors, Armenia, Netherlands, and Italy, I would like to thank you all for actively having participated in this very interesting area, spending the Friday afternoon here in the UN. Thank you so much and have a nice weekend. Thank you.