Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleRobert in den Bosch, chair of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts, urges swift progress in Geneva toward consensus on a non‑binding text to pave the way for future LAWS regulation, warning technology may outpace diplomacy. Consensus remains elusive, with major powers opposing legally binding rules
By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, March 3 (Reuters) - Progress on a potential international framework to prohibit and restrict Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) is urgently needed, as talks on the matter in Geneva enter a crucial phase, their chair said.
From this week to the mandate's end in September, 128 states will discuss whether to agree by consensus a non-binding text that could pave the way for future negotiations on prohibitions and regulations on LAWS.
Since 2014, more than a hundred states party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons have met in the Swiss city to discuss banning LAWS that do not comply with existing international law while regulating others.
"If we wait then it almost gets to a stage where you're too late... We will be overtaken by technological developments," Robert in den Bosch, the Dutch Disarmament Ambassador in Geneva and Chair of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS, told Reuters.
There are mounting concerns over the role of AI-assisted semi-autonomous weapons that have been used in conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and in .
While states agree international humanitarian law (IHL) applies to LAWS, specific internationally binding standards for these systems remain virtually non-existent.
Russia and the United States, among others, oppose new legally binding instruments, arguing existing laws suffice.
In den Bosch stated that others say new rules are needed to bridge supposed accountability gaps in IHL, which place obligations on states and individuals, not on machines.
The Rolling Text under discussion in Geneva proposes "context appropriate human judgment and control" as a measure to ensure that systems that "identify, select and engage" targets without human intervention comply with IHL.
Despite growing calls for urgent regulation, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' deadline for agreeing a legally binding instrument on LAWS this year will realistically be missed, In den Bosch said.
While the deadline is outside the Geneva talks' remit, the challenge of securing consensus on even non-binding elements underscores the difficulty of making progress, In den Bosch stated.
The talks are set within a challenging context of geopolitical tensions and recent European withdrawals from the landmine ban treaty over Russian threats.
The Review Conference of the CCW in November could decide to launch negotiations for a binding protocol after the Geneva talks end. However, in the absence of agreement, there is a risk some countries might pursue a breakaway treaty elsewhere, In den Bosch stated.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Saad Sayeed)
The talks aim to develop an international framework to prohibit and restrict Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems and address their regulation under international law.
Technological developments are outpacing regulations, raising concerns that delayed action could lead to uncontrolled usage of autonomous weapons.
Some nations, including Russia and the United States, believe existing laws are sufficient, while others argue new rules are needed to address accountability gaps.
The UN Secretary-General set a deadline for 2024, but it is unlikely to be met due to the complexities of reaching consensus.
Some countries might pursue a breakaway treaty outside the Geneva process if an agreement is not achieved.
Explore more articles in the Finance category
