FES NE W YORK ANALYSIS PEACE AND SECURITY CODE AND CONFLICT Next Steps towards Regulating Autonomous ­Weapons Systems Elizabeth Minor May 2025 • With rising geopolitical tensions and evidence of harm from emerging technologies, legal rules that set standards for autonomous ­weapons systems would reduce risks and enhance civilian protection. This would be the case even if not all states joined in. • Policy discussions indicate that a legal instrument supported by a broad range of countries could now be negotiated, although certain policy issues need to be addressed more fully. • In 2025, states with similar ­policy orientations, including from the Global South and those with military interests in autonomous weapons systems, should now develop cross-­regional partnerships and work with civil society to lay down strong, protective international norms.