Image Credentials: Image Title: Superpower Standoff: U.S. and China Refuse to Sign Global Military AI Declaration Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff | Friday, February 6, 2026
A CORUÑA, Spain — A global effort to establish ethical guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in warfare hit a major roadblock on Thursday as the world’s two preeminent military powers, the United States and China, declined to sign a joint declaration at the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit.
The two-day summit, held in the coastal city of A Coruña, brought together delegates from 85 nations to address the “prisoner’s dilemma” of modern warfare: how to regulate autonomous technologies without ceding a strategic advantage to adversaries. While 35 countries—including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, South Korea, and Ukraine, endorsed the 20-point declaration, the absence of Washington and Beijing underscored a deepening global divide.
US, China opt out of joint declaration on AI use in military https://t.co/Am9udamcb8 https://t.co/Am9udamcb8
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 6, 2026
A Fragile Consensus
The non-binding declaration sought to establish universal principles for “responsible” AI, including the necessity of human oversight in weapon systems, clear chains of command, and rigorous risk assessments.
“Russia and China are moving very fast,” said Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans during the summit. “That creates urgency to make progress in developing AI. But seeing it go fast also increases the urgency to keep working on its responsible use. The two go hand-in-hand.”
Despite the urgency, the summit saw a marked decline in consensus compared to previous years. At the 2024 summit in Seoul, approximately 60 nations, including the United States, signed a “blueprint for action.” The U.S. decision to opt out this year signals a significant shift in the American approach to international tech governance under the current administration.
The “Prisoner’s Dilemma”
Diplomatic sources suggest that the U.S. refusal stems from a desire to maintain “maximum flexibility” in its technological arms race with China. Experts noted that while the document carries no legal weight, both superpowers are wary of any rhetoric that could eventually lead to formal restrictions on their R&D pipelines.
“We are seeing a retreat from multilateralism,” said Yasmin Afina, a researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research. “Even non-binding principles are now being viewed through the lens of zero-sum competition. No one wants to be the first to tie their own hands.”
For European allies, the American withdrawal from the declaration adds another layer of uncertainty to transatlantic relations. Delegates privately expressed concerns that Washington’s “America First” stance on military tech could leave Europe caught between two unregulated digital giants.
Escalation Risks
The failure to bring the U.S. and China to the table comes at a time when AI is already being integrated into active conflict zones. In Ukraine, which was a signatory to the declaration, AI-driven drones and target-recognition software have become staples of the battlefield.
Human rights organizations warned that without a unified global framework, the risk of “unintended escalation”—where autonomous systems misinterpret data and trigger a kinetic response—will only grow.
As the summit concluded, the 35 signatories issued a joint statement vowing to continue the dialogue. However, without the signatures of the two nations currently leading the AI revolution, the A Coruña declaration remains a moral compass without a needle.