On November 25, 2025, a regional roundtable on Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) was held in Astana. The event was organized by the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The roundtable focused on legal regulation of AWS in accordance with international law.
One of the consequences of the technological revolution has been the emergence of artificial intelligence-enabled weapons capable of operating with minimal human intervention. The growing spread of autonomous technologies in the military sphere raises serious concerns due to the legal, humanitarian, and ethical implications of their use on the battlefield. Key issues include the degree of human involvement in decision-making, responsibility and accountability in the deployment of AWS, and the consequences of self-learning systems.
As a country that has traditionally advocated for strengthening international arms control regimes, Kazakhstan is a strong supporter of adopting a legally binding instrument regulating AWS. The country’s successful experience in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation provides a solid foundation for advancing this agenda both in the region and at international platforms. In this context, Kazakhstan attaches particular importance to engaging partner countries in discussions on the challenges and risks associated with the uncontrolled development and unregulated use of AWS.
The roundtable, held in a hybrid format, brought together diplomats, military and civilian officials, representatives of analytical and academic institutions from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, as well as ICRC experts. During the event, participants had the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the process of developing international norms on AWS control and exchanged views on ways to address existing regulatory challenges.
The roundtable was attended by Dauren Aben, Deputy Director of KazISS under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In his speech, he presented a regional perspective on the strategic and security issues related to the development and proliferation of AWS. In particular, he highlighted the threat of an arms race in this field and analyzed political barriers to achieving international consensus on AWS. According to Dauren Abenuly, autonomous weapons systems are not merely a new technology — they represent a challenge to the fundamental principles of international security and humanitarian law. The international community must approach this issue responsibly and prevent the emergence of a “legal vacuum” that could in the future lead to consequences for humanity as devastating as the potential use of nuclear weapons.
