Artificial Intelligence and European Security: NATO Warns of the Risks of Technological Lag

12 February 2026, 9:30 AM

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تقرير الناتو يحذّر من مخاطر التأخر التقني في الذكاء الصناعي على الأمن الأوروبي - NATO Report Warns of the Risks of Technological Lag in Artificial Intelligence to European Security — Estonian Foreign Ministry, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

NATO: Weak Political Will and Lack of Practical Expertise in Artificial Intelligence Threaten European Security

A report issued by NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence indicated that limited knowledge among governing circles in Europe regarding artificial intelligence poses a risk to European security. The report stated that policymakers tend to treat the technology primarily as a driver of economic progress, while not fully recognizing its broader potential impact on daily life.

The report added that European authorities are adopting a cautious approach focused on standards and ethical values, which limits the practical implementation of AI-based technologies, including experimentation and ongoing development. It emphasized that the absence of hands-on expertise and insufficient political will could result in Europe falling behind its competitors in this field.

Lack of Practical Implementation in Artificial Intelligence Affects European Security, According to NATO — © European Union, 2026, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The report noted that future competition in artificial intelligence will center on access to populations and the ability to influence how people think. It cautioned that integrating systems perceived as “neutral” into Western societies could promote patterns of thinking aligned with authoritarian values, in addition to expanding the use of surveillance tools and modified algorithms.

The report called on European authorities to balance the pursuit of transparency in artificial intelligence with expanded access to data, in order to enable companies to develop within effective public-private partnerships, ensuring that AI is invested in sustainably and securely.