US and Russia opposition threatens autonomous weapons deal at Geneva talks

September 4, 2026 at 08:27 PM2 min

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Opposition from the United States and Russia has raised doubts that 128 states meeting in Geneva will agree on Friday on a document that could pave the way to international rules on autonomous weapons, three diplomats said. The states are party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and are deciding whether to reach consensus on a non-binding text that may lead to negotiations on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Concerns have mounted over semi-autonomous weapons in conflicts such as Ukraine, Sudan and the Middle East.

Key Facts

The 128 states party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons are meeting this week in Geneva to decide on a non-binding text that may lead to negotiations on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems.
The United States and Russia have proposed late changes and deletions to the draft text, according to two diplomatic sources.
The U.S. position has hardened over the past six months, favoring guidelines over a legally binding treaty, with support from Russia, India and Turkey.
At least six countries received formal diplomatic approaches from Washington to back its position on the draft text.
Backers of a legally binding treaty include Brazil, Ireland and several African states.

Geneva Negotiations

The 128 states party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons have been meeting this week in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations. They are set to decide whether consensus can be reached on a non-binding text that may usher in negotiations on prohibitions and regulations for Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. A majority of countries at the meeting have expressed support for a draft text, but the U.S. and Russia have proposed late changes and deletions to it, two diplomatic sources said. Diplomats may run out of time and key provisions discussed over several years could be dropped, running the risk of no deal emerging, a second diplomatic source said.

US and Russian Opposition

The U.S. position has hardened over the past six months, a senior diplomat said, with Washington favoring something more akin to guidelines than a legally binding international treaty. This position is supported by states including Russia, India and Turkey. At least six countries received formal diplomatic approaches from Washington to back its position concerning the draft text, two diplomats said. Differences remain over language, with the use of words such as 'lethality' and a section related to exercising human judgment and control being debated, one of the sources said.

Treaty Supporters

Backers of a legally binding treaty, including Brazil, Ireland and several African states, say safeguards are needed to ensure meaningful human control over the weapons systems in question. Opponents favour greater flexibility. Human Rights Watch and the Stop Killer Robots campaign group have warned that weapons systems, some of which are assisted by artificial intelligence, may behave unpredictably, raising the risk of fatal errors.