Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dina Neskorozhana
October 23, 2025 Peace and security
Many viruses and bacteria can be turned into weapons of mass destruction. Although virtually all countries have joined the Biological Weapons Convention, allegations of their use continue to surface, making the issue of verification, especially in light of the capabilities of new technologies, particularly important.
Deadly, silent, invisible
When we mention "biological weapons," many recall stories of ancient times, throwing blankets infested with lice or smallpox into enemy camps, or modern narratives of infected insects and secret laboratories. Another memorable scene: on February 5, 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell demonstrated a vial of supposedly anthrax at a UN Security Council meeting.
Many of these stories are controversial, and modern-day mutual accusations of biological weapons development between states are often not officially confirmed. However, behind the legends lies a sinister reality, as James Revill, head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Space Security Programs at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), explains.
"Biological weapons are traditionally understood as agents that cause harm through infection. These can include viruses, such as smallpox, and bacteria, such as anthrax, along with a wide range of other biological agents. Biological weapons can affect humans, animals, and plants, causing consequences ranging from mass destruction to localized attacks, economic sabotage, or assassinations," Revill noted.
The danger of biological weapons lies in their ability to spread rapidly, yet silently and undetected, among the population. This is why, the expert added, such weapons are considered "unacceptable" and the international community has agreed to ban them completely.
Biological weapons typically consist of two components—an agent and a delivery vehicle, similar to the lice and blankets in the examples above. Agents such as aflatoxin, anthrax, botulinum toxin, foot-and-mouth disease, melioidosis, plague, Q fever, ricin, smallpox, and tularemia have been developed over the years. Delivery vehicles range from missiles and bombs to aerial sprayers and simple tools for stealth attacks.
When a disease outbreak begins, it's often impossible to determine whether it arose naturally, accidentally, or as a result of the deliberate use of a biological weapon. The true nature of biological weapons lies in their indiscriminate nature: they do not distinguish between friend and foe, inflicting equal cruelty on those who use them and those they target.
Biological Weapons Convention
Fearing the catastrophic consequences of biological warfare, the international community developed the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC). This treaty prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons.
The Convention opened for signature on April 10, 1972, and entered into force on March 26, 1975. Today, it has achieved near-universal application. The Convention expands on the provisions of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibited only the use of biological weapons, by extending this prohibition to their development and storage.
Call from the US President
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, US President Donald Trump highlighted the dangers posed by biological weapons and announced that his country would lead international efforts to develop an AI-based biosecurity verification system. He also called on the UN to play a constructive role in advancing these efforts.
"If we ever use biological weapons, the world could literally cease to exist," he said. "Then there would be no United Nations to talk about it."
The US President linked his warning to the lessons of the pandemic, which he blamed on "irresponsible experiments abroad," and announced plans for a new international initiative to strengthen the Convention, centered on a robust AI-based verification system. According to Trump, this would be one of the first global examples of how AI can strengthen collective security, rather than undermine it. Russia quickly supported this US initiative.
The UN's role in strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention
The UN has stated that it does not intend to shy away from disarmament challenges.
"Neither the United Nations itself nor the Office for Disarmament Affairs will escape the challenges of today," Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu emphasized at a meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. "On the contrary, current institutional challenges and trends in international security should inspire us to reaffirm the value of disarmament."
Commenting on Trump's initiative, James Revill of UNIDIR noted that, despite limited resources, the UN continues to play a key role in implementing and strengthening the Convention and the biocontrol system as a whole.
"A small four-person unit—the Secretariat for Supporting the Implementation of the Convention—coordinates discussions, assists the working group on strengthening the Convention, supports the implementation of commitments, and monitors confidence-building measures. Furthermore, the UN Secretary-General's mechanism for investigating cases of possible use of biological weapons remains accessible and effective, and work has recently been underway to modernize its capabilities," the expert explained.
Under Article 6 of the Convention, any State Party may file a complaint with the UN Security Council regarding a violation of its provisions. In such a case, the Security Council instructs the UN Secretary-General to examine allegations regarding the use or threat of use of biological weapons for validity.
Artificial Intelligence and Bioweapons Control
Today, the Convention remains an intergovernmental treaty, and even after half a century, states continue to disagree on how best to strengthen it. AI can help collect, standardize, and analyze data on biological activity across countries, creating a more accurate picture of compliance. However, according to Revill, technology alone is not enough: progress still requires institutions, political will, and financial resources.
New technologies can also be used by other parties. "Artificial intelligence, for example, could be used to create new biological agents or enable actors with less advanced resources to produce primitive forms of biological weapons. Furthermore, AI is increasingly being used to spread disinformation – whether through natural outbreaks or deliberate attacks," Reville emphasized.
The expert added that AI alone is not enough to create weapons; it requires a combination of technologies, equipment, and expertise. Advances in genome editing, the development of research projects, and new delivery systems—all of these, while being developed for peaceful purposes, can also be used for destructive purposes, requiring constant assessment of emerging threats.
Violations of the Convention
Revill noted that "over the past century, several states, including major powers, have had offensive biological weapons programs." There are also a few credible cases of bioterrorism by non-state actors, but information about these programs remains fragmentary. To verify the accusations countries make against each other, an effective verification system, backed by modern AI capabilities, is needed.
Renewed attention to the topic
The increased attention to the Biological Weapons Convention by the United States and other states is perceived as a long-awaited opportunity to strengthen its "verification mechanism," a UN News Service source emphasizes.
The coming years will tell whether artificial intelligence can become, as Trump put it, “a great force for good” – or, on the contrary, reinforce humanity’s old fears of invisible threats.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.