UAE Proposes 'Cyber Geneva Convention' to Define Modern Warfare
The UAE is spearheading a call for an international “Cyber Geneva Convention,” aiming to establish formal global standards that would classify major cyberattacks on critical infrastructure as formal acts of war. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, the head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, highlighted that while various UN initiatives have touched upon this topic, a concrete framework is still missing. As artificial intelligence continues to accelerate the speed and scale of potential threats, the UAE argues that nations urgently need clear legal boundaries to protect their digital sovereignty and hold aggressors accountable for disabling vital assets.
This proposal gained momentum during the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, where experts analyzed the intersection of AI, drones, and cyber threats in modern conflict. Panelists, including industry leaders from Lockheed Martin and G42, emphasized that contemporary security requires "strategic autonomy" and layered defense systems. They stressed that as AI-driven warfare compresses decision-making windows, countries must prioritize human oversight in lethal operations to maintain moral responsibility. Ultimately, the discussion underscored that long-term resilience depends on proactive foresight, integrated intelligence, and the urgent development of international norms to govern behavior in the digital age.