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February 7, 2026The US and China declined to back a joint declaration on military AI at the REAIM summit, exposing deep divisions over AI governance in warfare. Other nations warned that unchecked AI militarisation risks outpacing global safeguards.
At the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in A Coruña, Spain, major powers the United States and China declined to join a non-binding joint declaration on governing artificial intelligence in warfare, highlighting growing geopolitical tensions and differing approaches to AI militarisation.
Only 35 of the 85 countries attending the summit agreed to the 20 principles that emphasise human responsibility over AI weapon systems, clear command structures, robust risk assessments, and training and education for personnel operating AI-enabled military capabilities. Key supporters of the declaration included Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Ukraine, who backed responsible use standards even without legal enforcement.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans described a “prisoner’s dilemma” facing nations, balancing the urgency to advance AI capabilities with the need for responsible use amid rapid development by competitors like Russia and China. Past summits in The Hague and Seoul produced broader “blueprints for action,” but this year’s attempt to tighten principles saw hesitation from some Western allies and the notable absence of China and the US from the pact, raising concerns that AI progress could outpace governance frameworks and increase risks of miscalculation or unintended escalation.
