Ten member states of the United Nations Security Council announced the launch of an "informal expert group" on technology, peace, and security, aiming to enhance discussions on the impact of emerging technologies on international peace and security, and to support the Council's capacity to assess challenges and opportunities related to technological developments. This initiative was launched yesterday, Friday, according to UN News, in a move aimed at keeping pace with the acceleration in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and systems with military and security applications.
In this context, the group includes Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, and the United Kingdom. Greece and Latvia will hold the co-presidency of the group in 2026, while its first meeting will be held next November. The participating states confirmed in a joint statement that technological developments are increasingly affecting the nature of conflicts and the information environment, as well as their implications for the protection of civilians and the safety and security of United Nations personnel.
For their part, the ten states emphasized that modern technologies, despite the new risks they may pose, offer opportunities that can be leveraged to enhance peace and security efforts, highlighting the importance of allowing Council members to comprehensively evaluate their applications and impacts. They noted that the group does not aim to anticipate Security Council decisions or pre-determine its responses, but rather to build a shared understanding among its members and provide updated expertise to help them make informed and timely decisions.
The statement added that the group will work on forecasting emerging technological developments and assessing their potential implications for maintaining international peace and security, alongside studying the challenges and opportunities associated with using modern technologies in implementing Security Council mandates, including peacekeeping operations, counter-terrorism, and civilian protection. The participating states confirmed that the group will remain open to current and future Security Council members wishing to join its work, while seeking to leverage the expertise of the UN Secretariat, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other entities.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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