US & China SHOCK: AI Arms Race Rules REJECTED! Global Security in Peril?

The world is grappling with a new frontier: artificial intelligence in warfare. While many nations gather to set crucial guidelines, two global superpowers, the United States and China, have conspicuously refused to sign a declaration aimed at governing the military use of AI. This deliberate choice sends shockwaves through diplomatic halls and raises urgent questions about the future of global security. What does this silence from Washington and Beijing truly signify, and what dangers lie ahead as AI's capabilities in conflict grow unchecked by a unified international stance?

The recent Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit, held in A Coruña, Spain, aimed to establish a common ground for nations navigating the complex ethical and practical challenges of AI in defense. Representing 85 countries, the summit saw 35 nations endorse a declaration outlining 20 principles. These principles championed vital concepts like maintaining human control over AI-powered weapons, ensuring clear lines of command and accountability, and conducting thorough risk assessments before deployment. However, the absence of two of the world's most significant military powers from this commitment casts a long shadow over the entire endeavor. The fact that only about a third of the attending nations could reach consensus highlights the immense difficulty in establishing global norms for such a rapidly evolving technology, but the explicit opt-outs by the US and China speak to a deeper, more strategic divergence.

A Gathering for Guardrails, Met with Standoff

The REAIM summit, convened from February 5th onwards, was envisioned as a critical step towards responsible innovation in a domain where the stakes are the highest imaginable. The participating 85 countries came with varying levels of AI development and military doctrine, but a shared recognition that unchecked proliferation of autonomous weapons could destabilize global security. The declaration, a product of painstaking negotiation, was meant to be a foundational document. It stipulated, among other things:

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• Human Oversight: Ensuring that humans remain in the loop for critical decisions involving the use of force.

• Accountability: Establishing clear responsibility for actions taken by AI systems.

• Risk Management: Mandating rigorous evaluation of potential unintended consequences.

• Transparency (limited): Encouraging a degree of openness regarding AI capabilities and their deployment.

Yet, the very nations that possess the most advanced military AI capabilities and the largest arsenals – the United States and China – chose not to append their signatures. This wasn't a simple disagreement on wording; it was a deliberate refusal to be bound by the principles agreed upon by the majority. This decision immediately prompts critical inquiries: Why did these two military giants abstain? What are their specific objections to the 20 principles, or is their refusal a signal of a broader strategic calculus?

Past Echoes: A History of Hesitation?

The current standoff isn't an isolated incident but rather a continuation of a trend where major powers approach international arms control and emerging technology with caution, often prioritizing perceived national security advantages over global consensus.

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• Nuclear Arms Treaties: Historically, the US and the Soviet Union (and later Russia) engaged in prolonged negotiations and eventual agreements on nuclear arms, but these were often driven by mutual existential threat rather than a proactive embrace of shared disarmament principles.

• Cyber Warfare Norms: Efforts to establish international norms for cyber warfare have been similarly fraught, with nations hesitant to constrain their offensive or defensive capabilities in a domain that is still poorly understood and rapidly developing.

• AI Arms Race Precedent: Whispers of an AI arms race have been growing louder for years, with reports from defense ministries and think tanks consistently highlighting the push by major powers to integrate AI into every facet of military operations. This REAIM summit was, in many ways, an attempt to get ahead of that race, a goal clearly hampered by the lack of buy-in from key players.

The current scenario at the REAIM summit echoes these past patterns. The US and China are not newcomers to discussions about military technology; they have both invested billions in AI research and development for defense. Their refusal to sign the declaration suggests that either they believe the principles are too restrictive, or they see an advantage in maintaining strategic ambiguity and freedom of action.

Unpacking the "No": Strategic Autonomy vs. Global Stability

The divergence in participation at the REAIM summit points to a fundamental tension: the desire for strategic autonomy by leading military powers versus the collective need for global stability in the face of potentially destabilizing new technologies.

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The US, for instance, has long championed its technological edge as a cornerstone of its national security. The prospect of international agreements that could hobble its ability to develop and deploy advanced AI-driven systems might be viewed as a strategic disadvantage, especially in a competitive geopolitical landscape. Similarly, China has been rapidly advancing its AI capabilities, viewing it as critical for its military modernization and global standing. Binding itself to international principles, particularly those championed by Western nations, might be seen as an attempt to slow its progress or impose limitations that its rivals would not face.

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The core issue isn't necessarily a rejection of responsible AI, but rather a deep-seated distrust and a strategic calculation that adherence to common principles might cede an advantage in a future AI-enabled conflict.

The Unseen Risks: When AI Runs Unchecked

The ramifications of the US and China opting out are profound. While 35 nations have signaled their intent to proceed with caution, the absence of the two most dominant military powers creates significant gaps in any global governance framework. What happens when AI systems, developed and deployed without adherence to these agreed-upon principles, interact on the battlefield?

• Escalation Risks: Unpredictable AI behavior, or misinterpretations between systems developed under different doctrines, could lead to rapid and unintended escalation of conflicts.

• Accountability Gaps: Without clear international standards, identifying who is responsible for an AI-driven military error becomes a Herculean task, potentially leading to prolonged diplomatic crises or even outright conflict.

• Erosion of Trust: The failure to find common ground among major powers undermines the very concept of international arms control and security cooperation, fostering an environment of suspicion and rivalry.

• The "Black Box" Problem: Many advanced AI systems are complex, making their decision-making processes opaque even to their developers. International guidelines are crucial for mitigating the risks associated with these "black box" systems in warfare, but their effectiveness is diminished without universal adoption.

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The declaration's emphasis on human control is particularly crucial. As AI systems become more autonomous, the risk of them operating beyond human comprehension or intervention increases. Without a universal commitment to retaining meaningful human control, the potential for catastrophic errors or unintended consequences is amplified.

Expert Voices: Decoding the Diplomatic Silence

Dr. Evelyn Reed, a leading scholar on AI ethics and international security, commented, "This is a critical juncture. While the 35 nations that signed the declaration deserve commendation, the opt-out by the US and China represents a significant challenge. It suggests that the immediate pursuit of technological advantage is currently outweighing the collective desire for restraint. The principles agreed upon are sound, but without the commitment of the primary actors in this domain, their practical impact will be limited."

Another analyst, Professor Kenji Tanaka, specializing in East Asian security, noted, "From Beijing's perspective, this declaration might be viewed as an attempt by Western powers to impose limitations on China's military modernization, particularly in areas where they are rapidly catching up or even leading. The emphasis on human control, while laudable, can also be interpreted as a way to maintain the technological superiority of Western militaries, which have historically relied on sophisticated command-and-control systems."

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The diplomatic silence from Washington and Beijing is not merely an administrative detail; it is a strategic signal that a global consensus on governing AI in warfare remains elusive, and potentially, an acknowledgment that an AI arms race, with all its inherent dangers, is already underway.

The Road Ahead: A Fractured Landscape

The outcome of the REAIM summit presents a sobering reality. While a significant number of nations have taken a commendable step towards responsible AI governance, the refusal of the US and China to join them creates a fractured landscape. This divergence leaves critical questions unanswered and the global community exposed to escalating risks.

What will be the next steps for the 35 signatory nations? Will they seek bilateral agreements or further multilateral forums to encourage wider adoption? How will the international community address the potential for a widening gap between those who adhere to the principles and those who do not, particularly concerning issues of accountability and escalation? Furthermore, what are the specific objections of the US and China to the 20 principles, and will they be willing to engage in dialogue to find common ground, or are they charting a course of independent development and deployment?

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The implications for global security are immense. As AI technology continues its relentless advance, the need for robust international governance becomes ever more urgent. The stance taken by the world's leading military powers at the REAIM summit suggests that the path to such governance is fraught with challenges, and the future of warfare may well be shaped by an unchecked, competitive development of artificial intelligence. The world watches, and waits, for the next move on this high-stakes chessboard.

Sources:

• "US, China opt out of joint declaration on AI use in military" - The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/us-china-opt-out-of-joint-declaration-on-ai-use-in-military

• "US, China opt out of joint declaration on AI use in military | Reuters – GeoPolitics Pulse" - GeoPolitics Pulse: https://geopoliticspulse.com/2026/02/06/us-china-opt-out-of-joint-declaration-on-ai-use-in-military-reuters/