International Legal Regulation of Illegal Trafficking of Military Robots

INTRODUCTION. This article provides a critical analysis of the international legal aspects of regulating illicit trafficking in military robots, which is a new and rapidly growing threat to global stability. The relevance of this research is driven by technological revolution in the military sphere, characterized by autonomous systems capable of identifying targets and using lethal force independently, coupled with a parallel formation of a global black market for their illegal distribution. The authors identify a deep crisis within the current framework of international law to address this challenge. Traditional approaches, including norms of international humanitarian law and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, as well as multilateral export controls, demonstrate systemic weaknesses. Their main shortcomings are their fragmentation and their primary focus on states and conventional weapons. Their chronic failure to keep pace with the rate of technological advancement gives rise to a number of fundamental legal problems. These include the absence of universal legal definitions and classification criteria for autonomous systems, regulatory gaps that allow non-state actors, such as terrorist groups and organized criminal networks, to gain access to critical components and ready-made platforms without consequences, and ultimately, a lack of clarity regarding attribution and enforcement of liability for damage caused by autonomous systems circulating in the black market. As a strategic response, the article argues for the urgent need to develop a new, comprehensive international legal approach that should include the elaboration and adoption of a multilateral treaty establishing clear prohibitions and harmonizing terminology, creating effective control and verification mechanisms. At the same time, a set of complementary measures are proposed, including strengthening national legislation, modernizing customs procedures and financial oversight, fostering enhanced international cooperation in incident investigation and data exchange. The goal of the research is to create a conceptual basis for establishing a strong legal barrier against proliferation of these dangerous technologies and protecting the fundamental principles of international law in the era of autonomous weapons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. This research is based on a comprehensive doctrinal and analytical methodology, which is typical of fundamental legal work in the field of international law. It is both theoretical and applied, and includes an in-depth analysis of existing legal norms, such as international treaties, conventions, charters of international organizations, and documents from international conferences. It also includes analysis of theoretical approaches to problem research in scientific monographs, articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The research also examines practical approach, such as public reports from States. Finally, the research aims to develop scientifically sound proposals for improving legal regulation in the area under study. The study primarily employs a qualitative approach, which focuses on interpreting legal texts, identifying semantic conflicts, assessing the effectiveness of legal mechanisms, and forecasting the evolution of regulations. The main research methods are both general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction) and private scientific methods (formal legal analysis, risk-based approach).

RESEARCH RESULTS. The research concludes that existing international law is fundamentally inadequate to address the illicit trafficking of military robots. Key deficiencies include the absence of universally binding definitions, ineffective control over dual-use components and non-state actors, and unworkable accountability mechanisms for autonomous systems. To address this, the study proposes a comprehensive legal framework centered on a new international treaty, supported by enhanced national regulations, modernized monitoring tools, and stronger international cooperation.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. This analysis concludes that the current frameworks of international law are fundamentally unprepared to deal with the distinct and rapidly evolving challenges posed by the illegal spread of military robotics. Traditional arms control and humanitarian law, with their static and state-centric foundations, struggle to accommodate the reality of these rapidly developing, commercially available, soſtware-driven technologies. This gap has led to significant governance deficits, allowing critical vulnerabilities to persist. Therefore, this study advocates for a necessary shiſt in paradigm towards a more coherent and integrated approach to governance. This new approach should thoughtfully combine several key elements: an international treaty to establish clear legal prohibitions and control measures must be integrated with stronger complementary measures. These key measures include harmonizing national regulatory frameworks, implementing strategic trade controls targeting critical algorithms and supply chain components, and formalizing international forensic and investigative cooperation to ensure credible enforcement and accountability. Developing such a comprehensive and adaptive regime is crucial for the international community to mitigate profound security risks arising from the uncontrolled proliferation of autonomous military capabilities.

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