On 17 May, SIPRI’s Dr Vincent Boulanin participated in a virtual United Nations Security Council Arria-formula meeting entitled ‘The Impact of Emerging Technologies on International Peace and Security’. Dr Boulanin gave a briefing on trends in the development and use of emerging technologies, opportunities and risks for international peace and security, and how the international community could act to ensure that emerging technologies are governed in an effective, inclusive manner.
Briefings were also given by Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology.
The meeting focused on expanding the understanding of emerging technologies and called on the international community to bolster discussions on their development and application. Additionally, it aimed to increase awareness of the impact of emerging technologies on international peace and security and examine efforts to prevent and mitigate potential risks caused by their use.
The virtual Arria-formula meeting was organized by the Permanent Missions of China, Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to the UN.
Watch a recording of the meeting here.