WASHINGTON, D.C. As artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as the next critical domain in modern warfare, NATO allies are prioritizing its integration to bolster the alliance’s collective defense. A forthcoming summit in Washington, D.C., not only marks NATO’s 75th anniversary but also centers on fortifying the alliance amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.
The global ramifications of the Ukraine war have underscored the widening chasm between the West and key authoritarian adversaries, influencing sectors from defense to trade. At the heart of NATO’s strategic pivot is the evolution of AI technology.
The Ukraine conflict has significantly increased the use of drones in kinetic warfare, prompting an AI arms race and necessitating advanced offensive and defensive strategies. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighted the importance of countering adversarial AI capabilities: “There should be concern about countering Chinese and Russian AI capabilities in wartime, but concern should not be mistaken for despair. Just as there are reasons for concern in countering Chinese and Russian kinetic weapons — such as hypersonic maneuvering cruise missiles — the U.S. has the ability to build effective offensive and defensive systems to deter and, if necessary, defeat adversary actions.”
In March, NATO significantly expanded its tech accelerator sites under the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program, collaborating with private and public entities to develop “deep technologies” for defense challenges. This initiative now includes testing sites in 28 of the 32 NATO member nations, supporting innovation in AI, cyber, 5G, hypersonic, and autonomous systems.
Despite the broad expansion of AI capabilities, NATO is also focusing on establishing guidelines, particularly for AI usage in warfare. Former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment Marshall Billingslea emphasized the need for doctrinal discussions to prevent autonomous systems from engaging in combat without human oversight. “There will be doctrinal discussions at NATO on making sure that we don’t have ‘SKYNET’ take over and start engaging in kinetic action without humans making decisions,” Billingslea said. “As drones become increasingly sophisticated while remaining inexpensive, and as people introduce artificial intelligence into drones for attack, there is a need for a comparable level of AI that has to get incorporated into countering UAS [unmanned aircraft systems], as well as theater missile defense capabilities.”
AI’s role is already significant in U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations and is now being expanded across NATO. These AI initiatives aim to enhance collective defense by efficiently utilizing security and intelligence data from all partner nations, reducing the human burden of data analysis.
Beyond kinetic warfare, AI is also transforming the landscape of information warfare. AI-augmented disinformation campaigns and malware have become critical tools in soft war operations. Montgomery expressed concern over AI’s potential to enhance malign influence operations: “The area of greater concern for me is the use of AI to improve malign influence operations during peacetime or in a crisis buildup. Russia and China have both demonstrated a willingness to operate in the gray zone to a much greater degree than the U.S. and its democratic allies. As a result, Chinese and Russian AI-infused malign influence operations could have a significant negative impact.”
The reliance on Chinese systems has been a contentious issue between the U.S. and its European allies. However, Beijing’s support for Moscow has prompted many European countries to distance themselves from Chinese digital infrastructure companies. The war in Ukraine has underscored NATO’s imperative to protect its members and partner nations, particularly non-NATO countries in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, from AI-related threats.
Montgomery stressed the urgency of NATO’s support for Ukraine against a coalition of authoritarian regimes: “There’s a coalition of authoritarians that NATO has to deal with, and that is China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. From my perspective, Ukraine is on the front line of fighting all four of these authoritarian regimes. NATO better step up to support it.”
As NATO navigates these complex challenges, the integration and regulation of AI will remain pivotal in safeguarding the alliance’s future.
An Air Force program shows how the Pentagon is starting to embrace the potential of a rapidly emerging technology, with far-reaching implications for war-fighting tactics, military culture and the defense industry.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
