NATO to Establish "AI-Guarded Buffer Zone" Focused on Russian Border

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is working to establish an "automated defense zone" utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to strengthen the defensive capabilities along Europe's borders with Russia.

Thomas Rouwen, NATO Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and a German general, outlined this new defense system concept-which does not rely on human ground troops-in an interview with the German media outlet "Welt am Sonntag" published on January 24 (local time).

Deputy Chief of Staff Rouwen explained that this automated zone would serve as a primary buffer area to deter enemy forces (specifically Russian troops) before they enter regions where conventional combat could take place.

The automated zone will be equipped with a sensor network spanning land, air, space, and cyberspace. These sensors will monitor areas stretching for thousands of kilometers, detecting enemy movements or weapon deployments in real time and instantly sharing information with all NATO member states.

If a threat is detected, advanced unmanned assets such as drones, semi-autonomous combat vehicles, ground robots, automated air defense networks, and missile interception systems will respond. AI will be used to augment NATO's existing weaponry and deployed forces.

However, Deputy Chief of Staff Rouwen, apparently mindful of some concerns, emphasized that "the decision to use lethal weapons will always remain under human responsibility." Even if AI identifies and tracks targets, the final attack order will continue to be issued by a human.

Currently, trials of this technology are underway in Poland and Romania. According to the media outlet, NATO aims to have this system operational by the end of 2027.

This move by NATO is seen as a response to concerns that, as the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia could expand its influence into European Union (EU) territory in the future.