State dossier
United States
USA · UNITED STATES · on the world map
What does it want?
Position: keep it in Geneva (CCW-ONLY). Supports continuing the consensus process in the Geneva weapons convention, and has not said what it should produce.
Wants new rules, not a treaty (REG-SOFT), since 2023-02-16, stated directly (EXPLICIT)
Supports new international rules that are not legally binding.
The United States launched the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy, a non-binding pledge, as its preferred new international measure, built on the existing laws of war.
The US-led non-binding declaration anchors military AI use in existing international humanitarian law.
use of AI in armed conflict must be in accord with States' obligations under international humanitarian law, including its fundamental principles
Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, 2023-02-16 source
In its November 2023 explanation of vote, the United States says it is not the time to negotiate a legally binding instrument.
the United States believes that the time is not right to begin negotiating a legally binding instrument on LAWS
General Assembly First Committee, 78th session, 28th meeting, official verbatim record (A/C.1/78/PV.28), 2023-11-01 source
Keep it in Geneva (CCW-ONLY), since 2025-11-04, stated directly (EXPLICIT)
In November 2025 the United States voted against the UN resolution on autonomous weapons and explained why. It wants the work to stay inside the Geneva weapons convention, where decisions need consensus, and it objected to two specific paragraphs of the resolution. It did not say it opposes a future treaty. Its statement describes the Geneva track as working "on a future instrument and other measures". This replaces an earlier reading that had the US opposing any new rules; see the corrections page.
In its explanation of vote the US did not support and voted against the LAWS resolution.
the United States does not support L.41, the LAWS resolution, and voted against it
80th session of the UNGA First Committee, Cluster 4, Conventional Weapons: United States statement, 2025-11-04 source
The US framed its No as support for the CCW track working toward a future instrument, not opposition to a new instrument.
with a view to further deliberations and consensus among the CCW High Contracting Parties on a future instrument and other measures
80th session of the UNGA First Committee, Cluster 4, Conventional Weapons: United States statement, 2025-11-04 source
The US objection to the UNGA resolution was specific to two paragraphs, not to a new instrument as such.
the United States is deeply concerned about preambular paragraph 7 and operative paragraph 3
80th session of the UNGA First Committee, Cluster 4, Conventional Weapons: United States statement, 2025-11-04 source
The US stated strong support for the CCW GGE on lethal autonomous weapons systems.
this includes the ongoing work of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
80th session of the UNGA First Committee, Cluster 4, Conventional Weapons: United States statement, 2025-11-04 source
The US objects to the parallel UN General Assembly regulatory track for military AI and autonomy.
the creation of a new regulatory process under UN auspices would be inappropriate and undermine efforts to strengthen international peace and security
Resolution 79/239 Artificial Intelligence in the military domain: Submission by the United States of America, 2025-03-31 source
The US frames autonomy as a weapon-system capability governed by existing IHL classifications.
autonomy is a capability of the weapon system. This understanding means that LAWS fall under existing classifications in IHL
The Autonomy Aspect of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2025/WP.6), 2025-09-02 source
The US contemplates a future instrument or other measures within the CCW work.
any future instrument or other possible measures will need a common understanding of what systems are covered to be effective
The Autonomy Aspect of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2025/WP.6), 2025-09-02 source
The United States names the CCW as the forum for work on LAWS.
The CCW remains, in our view, the best and most credible forum for continuing to advance international efforts on laws.
Preparatory Committee of the Seventh CCW Review Conference, 1st meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-09-07 source
The United States wants a new CCW mandate that builds on the GGE outcome.
For us, that means adopting a new mandate that carries forward and builds upon the successful outcome of the laws GGE.
Preparatory Committee of the Seventh CCW Review Conference, 1st meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-09-07 source
The United States describes the future mandate's work as developing an instrument.
To develop an instrument, work on legal and technical issues would be needed in even more detail than in the past.
Preparatory Committee of the Seventh CCW Review Conference, 3rd meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-09-08 source
Shift: wants new rules, not a treaty → keep it in Geneva 2025-11-04
The US framed its No vote as support for the CCW track working toward a future instrument.
with a view to further deliberations and consensus among the CCW High Contracting Parties on a future instrument and other measures
80th session of the UNGA First Committee, Cluster 4, Conventional Weapons: United States statement, 2025-11-04 source
Shown large among its peers · hover a mark for its position
How did it vote?
Yes, Yes, No across the three resolutions.
Hover a legend chip to light those votes · each resolution links to its record
What has it signed?
Being on a list is a fact. Not being on one is not opposition.
Hover a column heading to light its signings · click a seal to open the document
When has it spoken?
Every time it went on the record, dated.
Hover a mark for what it was · a legend chip lights that type
What rules has it written at home?
Its own military policy.
Government eras, for context only: Obama administration, 2009 to 2017 Trump administration, 2017 to 2021 Biden administration, 2021 to 2025 Trump administration, since 2025
- 2023-01-25 · DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systemscore policy, filled marker · source · archived
DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems
Current version issued 25 January 2023; first issued November 2012. Quotes checked against official reproductions in the US submission to the UN Secretary-General and the ICRC casebook.
US doctrine requires design for appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.
Autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems will be designed to allow commanders and operators to exercise appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.
DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems, 2023-01-25 source
Supersession history; the directive was issued November 2012 and updated January 2023.
issuing DoD Directive 3000.09, titled Autonomy in Weapon Systems, in November 2012 and updating it in January 2023
Resolution 78/241 Lethal autonomous weapons systems: Submission of the United States of America, 2024-05-25 source
The record
The documents on file.
Each mark opens its source