Published In
Articles of War
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2025
Subjects
Warfare, Autonomous Weapons Systems
Abstract
Lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), such as drones and autonomous missile systems, are no longer a theoretical concern. Indeed, they are finding their way onto the battlefield. Amid growing international concern, States have articulated a range of positions on how LAWS should be governed, ranging from relying on existing international law(traditionalists), to a legal ban on LAWS (prohibitionists), to a new treaty that would ban certain uses and regulate others to “clarify and strengthen existing law” (dualists). In this post, we analyze a flurry of recent international diplomatic efforts to address LAWS, focusing on these three main positions adopted by various States and identifying potential next steps.
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Citation Details
B. Perrin & M. Zamani, “The Future of Warfare: National Positions on the Governance of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems” (11 February 2025) Articles of War (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare) https://lieber.westpoint.edu/future-warfare-national-positions-governance-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems