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Geneva: ACGO at GGE on Autonomous Weapons Systems

An ACGO team took part in the negotiating session of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) in Geneva from 2 to 6 March 2026. On site, the team used a closed questionnaire to systematically capture national positions. At the same time, it observed the negotiations on the current Rolling Text and on possible outcomes before the mandate expires at the end of 2026.

The GGE on LAWS process provides valuable empirical data for ACGO’s research on multilateral arms control negotiation. Participation also enabled exchanges with various delegations, in particular representatives from Germany, Austria, and the United States. These conversations deepened insights into current national positions and into possible interfaces between academic research and policy practice.

The GGE on LAWS negotiations highlight the complexity and protracted nature of multilateral arms control processes under conditions of technological change. With the current GGE mandate set to expire at the end of 2026, the CCW Review Conference in November 2026 will be of particular importance for the future institutional design of the process. By the provisionally final negotiating round in September 2026, GGE delegations must produce concrete outcomes from the Rolling Text. The regulation of autonomous weapon systems therefore remains a key area of observation for the research group.