UAE makes a strong pitch for emerging technologies at UN Security Council debate

New York: The UAE has affirmed its commitment to developing new methods and tools in order to better utilise modern technologies for the maintenance of international peace and security in collaboration with the United Nations and its member-states.

At the UN Security Council open debate on technology and peacekeeping chaired by Dr S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, the UAE participated via written statement and underscored that innovation will be a priority during its membership on the UN Security Council in 2022-2023.

“As the world makes immense technological progress, we must ascertain how to best leverage these innovations to address the conflicts and challenges of our time,” the UAE said in its statement. “The UAE believes that new and emerging technologies can revolutionise peacekeeping and fortify international peace and security. It is imperative that the UN’s operations in the field have access to the technological tools critical to the success of their mandates.”

The UAE highlighted how technologies such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles that can be used by peacekeepers for intelligence-gathering and monitoring services. It also outlined how renewable energy can help mitigate security risks for peacekeeping as well as provide critical benefits such as reduced operating costs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced energy access.

In addition to these benefits, UAE stressed that technology must be developed and used in a gender-responsive approach to better protect women and girls.