UN Security Council debates AI risks to maritime security and peace

Digital Watch reports that the UN Security Council convened a senior-level open debate on 29 October 2026 about how emerging technologies are changing maritime security and what that means for international peace. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired the session during Greece's turn in the Council presidency. Subjects included AI, autonomous or remotely operated craft, uncrewed vehicles, advanced sensing and cyber tools, and also the safeguarding of merchant shipping, vital maritime facilities and freedom to navigate. The debate followed a concept note circulated by Greece.

Mitsotakis said attacks on commercial shipping affect supply chains, energy prices and food security, and argued that technology is making disruption cheaper. He described AI, satellites and sensors as tools for surveillance and early warning, and called for cooperation among like-minded states, information sharing and investment. The United Kingdom stressed rigorous testing, stronger cyber defences and pointed to IMO activity on autonomous commercial ships plus its own work on a Maritime Cyber Code.

The European Union warned that drones and uncrewed surface and underwater craft could make attacks easier against ships, undersea cables and pipelines, and that ports have cyber vulnerabilities. It said maritime AI should remain under human control, state accountability and international humanitarian and human rights law. Denmark also urged human control over AI-enabled weapons, cited drone and missile strikes on ships near the Black Sea, Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, and pointed to UNCLOS.

According to the report, on 23 October 2026 ten Council members formed an informal panel of experts on technology and on peace and security issues, led jointly by Greece and Latvia, whose first meeting is expected in November. The session ended without any new binding measures or formal Council commitments.