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Statement by H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, in the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on "Artificial intelligence and international peace and security" under the agenda item "Maintenance of international peace and security" (10005th meeting)
New York, 25 September 2025
Thank you, Mr President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished colleagues,
I thank the Republic of Korea for convening this debate and the briefers for their valuable reflections.
AI offers vast opportunities. It can promote economic growth, drive scientific progress and innovation, improve healthcare and make education more accessible.
But at the same time, it does present serious challenges to international peace and security. Just as we heard from the minister from Ukraine today. Those challenges also include ethical dilemmas in military, vulnerabilities in cyber- and biosecurity, and the growing risks of manipulation of information and even interference in democratic processes.
AI is already part of our daily lives and part of the warfare. It depends how we apply it. It can help self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, just as Ukraine is implementing it, or it can be part of the arsenal of the aggressor, in case of Russia. Our task is to make to make sure at the United Nations that we can make it safer and more beneficial for people. Develop it responsibly. But we should not halt the progress.
So, what should we do?
- In our view, first, we should enable innovation by supporting research and providing high-quality data.
- Second, create safeguards to protect information space from malign use. To promote critical thinking among our people and build up capacities to detect the potential risks.
- Third, bring humans to the core of AI governance. Technology should serve people, protect freedoms, and enhance human potential rather than replace it.
Thus, Latvia has created Artificial Intelligence Centre to ensure cooperation between public, private and academic actors. It does reflect our belief that collaboration is essential for responsible innovation.
At the global level, we must agree on guiding principles for the safe, legal, and ethical use of AI in military. Ensure effective prevention of its misuse by terrorists and criminal groups, and aggressors, for that matter.
Mr President,
As an elected future member of the UN Security Council, Latvia will continue your work and bring this matter forward as an urgent issue of peace and security. We will work to strengthen recognition of the need for safe, ethical, and trustworthy AI.
I thank you!