New global accord close to being finalised

After a decade of talks, 128 countries have reached the first global accord on autonomous weapons in Geneva

The agreement — confirmed last Friday by a UN group of governmental experts — defines lethal autonomous weapons and affirms the need for meaningful human control.

The Netherlands, which chaired the discussions, called it a milestone in regulating a fast-evolving military technology.

But campaigners say it stops short on weapons designed to strike people directly, a major omission, and note that the United States, Russia and their allies pushed to weaken it through the week.

Countries will decide in November whether to open negotiations on a binding treaty.

 

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