Conference on Disarmament Holds Thematic Discussion on New Types of Weapons of Mass Destruction and New Systems of such Weapons, including Radiological Weapons

The Conference on Disarmament today held a thematic discussion on its agenda item 5 on new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, including radiological weapons.

Ambassador Salomon Eheth of Cameroon, President of the Conference on Disarmament, opening the thematic discussion, introduced the panellists.

Yury Ambrazevich, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that rapid advances in science and technology were becoming cross-sectoral, relating to all aspects of disarmament. Thus, rapid advances in digital technology, including cyber weapon technology, progress in the development of artificial intelligence, and the automatization of weapons systems created problems to international security and existing disarmament architecture. Many States were increasing their information communication technology capacity for military purposes and their use in potential inter-State conflicts was becoming increasingly likely. Therefore, States and international organizations should include this topic as a priority for discussion in disarmament fora. Another significant topic within this agenda item was autonomous weapons. Many of the most recent advances in the weapons field were related to artificial intelligence, robotics and automatization. A number of countries with advanced military capabilities were developing semi-autonomous and fully autonomous weapons systems in which artificial intelligence was employed for decision-making purposes. Transparency and cooperation would play a vital role in developing effective regulatory strategies and procedures, implying a high level of mutual trust.

Liana Fix, Programme Director International Affairs, Körber-Stiftung, presenting the result of a unique project initiated by two independent German institutions, Körber-Stiftung in Berlin and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy in Hamburg, said that the new power competition of the twenty-first century involved more actors, more domains of competition and a technological environment that evolved with unprecedented speed, thus increasing the risk of an inadvertent military escalation among nuclear powers. Strategic stability would not necessarily wane in competition in all spheres, but it could play a vital role in stabilising security relationships. They had agreed on a definition of strategic stability and agreed that it not only concerned the nuclear domain but also space, advanced cyber offensives and defensive conventional weapons systems. She said the project had recommended that parties focus on what was possible; the necessity to deepen exchanges and crisis communication among the P5, including by establishing hotlines between them; and the need to clarify the risks introduced by hypersonic weapons to strategic stability which were not yet entirely clear.

In the discussion, speakers said that the development of science and technology today, as well as their corresponding military applications, were evolving at breakneck speed. Due to the dual-use nature of technologies, it was advisable not to impose unreasonable restrictions on the development of useful technology in the name of arms control. Cyber-enabled threats had proliferated and were becoming increasingly interconnected. It was key for the Conference on Disarmament to remain abreast of the topic of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; digital and cyber security, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles and lethal autonomous weapon systems were relevant to this discussion. The emergence and development of new types of weapons of mass destruction was the result of both technological advances and the evolution in the landscape of international security. It was urgent for the Conference to conduct an in-depth discussion on this issue because of the double-edged sword nature of these emerging technologies. It was important to reflect on the risks, challenges and threats of new technologies on security, particularly if they fell in the hands of non-State actors, including terrorist groups, which could pose a challenge to international peace and security.

Speaking in the discussion were Japan, United States, Netherlands, India, China, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Argentina, France, Turkey, Russian Federation and Venezuela.

The next public plenary of the Conference on Disarmament will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, 18 June, when Ambassador Eheth said he would make some closing reflections at the end of the Presidency of Cameroon, prior to the handing over of the Presidency to Canada.

Opening Remarks by the President of the Conference

Ambassador SALOMON EHETH of Cameroon, President of the Conference on Disarmament, opening the thematic discussion on agenda item 5 on new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, including radiological weapons, introduced the two panellists.

Statements by the Keynote Speakers

YURY AMBRAZEVICH, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that rapid advances in science and technology were becoming cross-sectoral, relating to all aspects of disarmament. Thus, rapid advances in digital technology, including cyber weapon technology, progress in the development of artificial intelligence, and the automatization of weapons systems created problems to international security and existing disarmament architecture. It could be said that for the first time since the appearance of nuclear weapons, a whole new field of use of force had emerged in international relations. Consequently, international information security had become one of the most important problems facing nations. As the dependence of societies on the Internet increased, the world was becoming increasingly vulnerable to attacks in cyberspace. Cyber attacks were becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated. Cyberspace was also more likely to be used for terrorist attacks. Many States were increasing their information communication technology capacity for military purposes and their use in potential inter-State conflicts was becoming increasingly likely. Therefore, States and international organizations should include this topic as a priority for discussion in disarmament fora.

Another significant topic within this agenda item was autonomous weapons. Many of the most recent advances in the weapons field were related to artificial intelligence, robotics and automatization. A number of countries with advanced military capabilities were developing semi-autonomous and fully autonomous weapons systems in which artificial intelligence was employed for decision-making purposes. A number of States were also studying technologies that could provide vehicles with a higher degree of combat autonomy or could make them fully autonomous. The next steps of the international community with regard to fully autonomous weapons systems would be crucial. Transparency and cooperation would play a vital role in developing effective regulatory strategies and procedures, implying a high level of mutual trust. The international community should also not forget the risk of obtaining weapons of mass destruction by non-State groups, and the use of advances in science and technology to create new types of weapons of mass destruction. Belarus regularly introduced a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly on the prohibition of the development and manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons. This resolution was preventive in nature and was aimed at preventing the appearance of new weapons of mass destruction.

Belarus reiterated its proposals to the Conference in this direction. The Conference was called on to formulate a request to the United Nations Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report on the threats of new technologies to international security and non-proliferation. This would enable the Conference to gain a better understanding of potentially hazardous technologies and associated risks. The second proposal was for the Conference to turn to existing examples of national practices of various States on the potential consideration of risks and threats of new technologies for international security and non-proliferation. This process could result in the formulation by the Conference of rules or principles of conduct to prevent the misuse of new advances in science and technology. The third proposal envisaged a study and systematization of national measures to counter the efforts of non-State actors to acquire weapons of mass destruction or achieve comparable consequences. The development of harmonised principles of sorts could be a worthy contribution of the Conference on Disarmament to the anti-terrorist activities of the United Nations.

LIANA FIX, Programme Director International Affairs, Körber-Stiftung, said that agenda item 5 on new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons was of particular importance and she was delighted to speak on the challenges to strategic stability in the nuclear field, with a focus on emerging technologies. She was presenting the result of a unique project initiated by two independent German institutions, Körber-Stiftung in Berlin and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy in Hamburg. Over the course of one year the project had regularly convened a group of experts from the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany to develop new ideas and approaches to addressing key challenges for strategic stability in the twenty-first century. The new power competition of the twenty-first century involved more actors, more domains of competition and a technological environment that evolved with unprecedented speed, thus increasing the risk of an inadvertent military escalation among nuclear powers. Strategic stability would not necessarily wane in competition in all spheres, but it could play a vital role in stabilising security relationships. They had agreed on a definition of strategic stability, and agreed that it not only concerned the nuclear domain but also space, advanced cyber offensives and defensive conventional weapons systems.

Ms. Fix said she would present to the Conference a selection of the recommendations, with a focus on emerging technologies, including hypersonic weapons. The first recommendation focused on what was possible. Enhancing strategic stability between the United States, Russia and in the long-term China would be a long and uncertain process. That was why the parties should take care not to overburden any future agenda on strategic stability. The United States and Russia should redouble the efforts to work on strategic stability and include hypersonic weapons on the agenda. The second recommendation focused on the necessity to deepen exchanges and crisis communication among the P5, including by establishing hotlines between them. Exchanging notifications about planned missile launches would preclude misunderstandings that could lead to escalations and enhance predictability, also with regard to hypersonic weapons. The next recommendation was to encourage measures to maximise decision-making time for leaders; again this was of particular importance as they looked at hypersonic weapons.

Ms. Fix spoke of the need to clarify the risks introduced by hypersonic weapons to strategic stability which was not yet entirely clear as these weapons were evolving. A dialogue on the impact of hypersonic weapons was needed as a first step before discussing applicable arms control mechanisms. The inclusion of artificial intelligence in military weapon systems would also be useful. This could be a first step before talks between the United States and Russia, and also between the United States and China, as well as in a multilateral format. Norms should be established for cyber competition in the nuclear domain. Priority should be given to mitigate threats in the nuclear domain. This was not the only area which was of concern when it came to cyber threats and strategic flexibilities, but perhaps it was the most important and the most dangerous. As a first step, a risk hierarchy for the nuclear domain should be established, where P5 States could agree that cyber competition would be too dangerous and work on establishing rules of the game. For example, a code of conduct not to carry out cyber attacks against each other's nuclear early warning command control and communication systems. She hoped that these recommendations could serve as a starting point and was convinced that together States could choose a different path and change their collective fate.

Discussion

One speaker said that the development of science and technology today, as well as their corresponding military applications, were evolving at breakneck speed. Some of these emerging technologies had been fundamentally changing military operations and may become game-changers of security. In light of this, it was imperative to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, especially when it came to the use of force, including any new types of weapons of mass destruction. Due to the dual-use nature of technologies, it was advisable not to impose unreasonable restrictions on the development of useful technology in the name of arms control. Also, as there was a multiplicity of stakeholders, participation from multiple layers of stakeholders in any discussions was desirable. The Conference on Disarmament was an important venue for any future-oriented discussion on new technologies and their impact. Another speaker said that cyber-enabled threats had proliferated and were becoming increasingly interconnected. These threats ranged from State-sponsored attempts to target major critical infrastructure to the use of ransomware by cybercriminals to extort a single individual or hold hostage sensitive information. Combatting the ransomware threat was a top priority and needed collaboration with international partners and the private sector. It was underscored that important legal rules and politically imperative norms on State behaviour in cyberspace had been adopted by the international community.

A speaker said that it was key for the Conference on Disarmament to remain abreast of the topic of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, adding that digital and cyber security, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles and lethal autonomous weapon systems were relevant to this discussion. There was a great analogy between nuclear and emerging technologies. In order to prevent a conflict with major consequences, it was necessary to underline the importance of risk reduction, crisis stability and crisis management. Another speaker spoke of efforts to draw global attention to the threat posed by terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and suggested that the Conference on Disarmament commence substantive negotiations with a view to achieving one or more legally binding international instruments that would address the threat posed by new types of weapons of mass destruction, including radiological weapons, should there be consensus in this regard.

One speaker said that the emergence and development of new types of weapons of mass destruction was the result of both technological advances and the evolution in the landscape of international security. It was urgent for the Conference to conduct an in-depth discussion on this issue because of the double-edged sword nature of these emerging technologies. These technologies were being applied in the military field on a larger scale and at a faster pace, in particular by a certain superpower that was actively developing missile defence systems in outer space. This would further exacerbate the trend of weaponizing outer space and turning it into a battlefield. Another speaker said that to deal with the impact of emerging technologies in the field of international peace and security, all States needed to work together in a transparent and safe manner. It was necessary at this stage to produce legally binding norms in the field of information communication technology and cyberspace in the context of international security.

It was essential to develop commensurate norms, rules and laws to regulate in all their dimensions the way that some new and emerging technologies were being used, one speaker said. The growing gap between innovation integration and regulation was creating unacceptable vulnerabilities. Another speaker said that joint efforts were necessary in order to ensure that nuclear materials and sources of radioactive substances were properly safeguarded and protected. A robust system to mitigate the risks of access to these kinds of substances by non-State actors was of the utmost importance in order to ensure international security. There should be limits on the development of the use of new technologies set by law but they should not undermine States' potential to develop such technology for civilian and peaceful use. One speaker said that their country had set up a standing ethics committee which reflected all ethical questions raised by new technologies in the area of defence, which it hoped would be a source to be used by the Expert Group on lethal autonomous weapon systems, which was meeting under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

One speaker stressed the importance of reflecting on the risks, challenges and threats of new technologies on security, particularly if they fell in the hands of non-State actors, including terrorist groups, which could pose a challenge to international peace and security. Accountability for misuse of emerging technologies was crucial. Another speaker said that the Conference on Disarmament was a multilateral forum, a unique platform for an unbiased discussion on questions of international security, and it should ensure a comprehensive discussion on new types of weapons of mass destruction and if necessary start negotiations to establish controls over them. One speaker expressed deep concern about the lack of regulation on the development of lethal autonomous weapons, as well as the transversal nature of the technology being used in new weapons systems, including technological developments, artificial intelligence and new genetic engineering biotechnology. They supported a full ban on the development of this kind of weapons.

Concluding Remarks

LIANA FIX, Programme Director International Affairs, Körber-Stiftung, said there were two further policy recommendations that the project had developed which might be useful to take this discussion further. They were what to focus on and what should be the general mindset on how to proceed in arms control and disarmament. A willingness to manage competition was the precondition for strategic stability, as well as a joint understanding that avoiding military conflict would have to involve a basic political willingness to listen and to compromise. The second idea was learning the lessons of the Cold War. It would be beneficial to look back at approaches towards managing competition and continue a dialogue about the sources of instability and ways to reduce it.

YURY AMBRAZEVICH, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said his statement and that of Ms. Fix had been mutually supportive and complimentary because they had focused on most of the political issues related to agenda items 5,6 and 7. The importance of the strategic discussion on these issues was something that was fully in line with the diplomatic position of Belarus. On whether the legal base in the field of international security was sufficient or not, Mr. Ambrazevich said that in the absence of a dialogue on strategic stability, there was a possibility for different interpretations of existing legal instruments. This question should be raised by professionals and diplomats in this area and should not simply be relegated to discussions between legal experts. Not a single delegation had mentioned as one of the challenges the question of information security and manipulating fake information. Those who controlled information controlled the world. Th question of information was a very important factor for the security of countries. For instance, the Convention on Biological Weapons banned the delivery of biological agents, but at the same time, in the current word, nobody prohibited the dissemination of outrageous lies that undermined the security of countries and led people to take to the streets and to force Governments to take certain decisions. He hoped that at some point, rules of conduct on the information space could be agreed.

CD21.030E