Current technological transformations in the defense sector impose profound and urgent reflections that go well beyond military logic. The most controversial innovations include autonomous weapons systems (also known as killer robots), which overstep a critical line for the international community. Capable of identifying and striking targets autonomously, without direct human control at the moment of engagement, these technologies call into question the foundations of international humanitarian law, of individual and collective responsibility, and of the general ethics that must form the basis for all decisions regarding human life.

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 2 December 2024, 166 States voted in favor of Resolution 79/L.99 on killer robots, which confirms the need to begin negotiations on an international treaty to prohibit them. The resolution establishes a forum for informal consultations in 2025 to address the risks posed by weapons that can select and attack targets without human intervention. It reflects growing international concern over the humanitarian, ethical, and security implications of autonomous weapons, and calls for meaningful human control over their use.