US and China Refuse to Sign AI Warfare Pact — And the World Is Alarmed

The United States and China declined to sign a global declaration outlining principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military applications at the REAIM summit in Spain. About 35 of 85 nations affirmed principles on oversight and human control, revealing widening international divide over AI regulation in warfare. 

At a high-profile summit on artificial intelligence in military settings held in A Coruña, Spain, major powers such as the United States and China opted out of signing a non-binding joint declaration on how AI should be used in warfare.

The Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit gathered representatives from 85 countries to discuss principles meant to guide the ethical governance of AI systems in military contexts. Only around a third of participants endorsed the principles, highlighting deep geopolitical divisions on how AI should be deployed in defence.

This development matters because AI is rapidly shaping future warfare capabilities, and without broad consensus among major powers, the risk of unregulated AI use in conflict scenarios increases.

The US–China decision to skip global rules on military AI highlights how data science and artificial intelligence now sit at the centre of geopolitical power and security strategy. As autonomous and agent-driven systems move into high-risk domains, agentic AI courses help professionals understand decision-making, risk control, and human-in-the-loop design. Training in AI governance and data science becomes critical to building systems that remain safe, accountable, and controllable at scale.

The REAIM 2026 Declaration: What was on the table?

The 20-point document was designed to prevent "unintended escalation" caused by AI hallucinations or autonomous errors.

Key Principles of the Declaration:

• Human-in-the-Loop: Signatories affirmed that humans must remain responsible for the use of AI-powered weapons, particularly in lethal force decisions.
• Traceable Command: Requirement for clear, auditable chains of command for every AI action.
• Testing & Training: Commitment to "robust testing" and mandatory education for personnel operating military AI.
• Information Sharing: A pledge to share national oversight mechanisms, provided it does not compromise national security.

The Superpower Snub: Why US and China Refused to Sign

The absence of the "Big Two" effectively renders the pact a symbolic gesture rather than a global standard.

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Global Reaction: A Multipolar World in Flux

• The Signatories: Only 35 of 85 nations signed. Major backers included Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Ukraine.
• The "Wait and See" Group: Many nations in the Global South abstained, watching to see how the US-China trade and tech wars evolve before picking a regulatory side.
• The Research Perspective: Yasmin Afina (UN Institute for Disarmament Research) noted that even though the text was non-binding, many governments felt it was "too concrete," signaling a move toward more aggressive national AI doctrines.

Conclusion

The 2026 REAIM summit has revealed a sobering truth: when it comes to the "ultimate weapon," ethics are taking a backseat to speed. The failure of the US and China to join the declaration confirms that we have entered an era of unrestrained AI development. In this high-stakes environment, the only real "regulation" will be the capabilities of the systems themselves.