The AI battlefield: Europe embraces the ‘new normal’
Good morning. It’s Thursday, and my name is Angela Skujins. On today’s agenda: exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) on Europe’s battlefield, keeping the international justice system accountable, and how to stop the world’s islands from sinking.
In recent developments at the United Nations General Assembly, Lithuanian and Polish presidents met with the CEO of Palantir Technologies, a US-based tech company known for integrating AI into its systems. Palantir's technology is already utilized by American defense and immigration agencies, as well as military operations in Ukraine.
The Lithuanian president expressed readiness for Vilnius to become a regional hub for Baltic nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), focusing on utilizing top talent, AI, data, and defense technologies to address real security needs across the alliance.
However, Palantir's involvement has drawn criticism. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has blocked the company from public contracts and state-controlled entities, while Human Rights Watch has condemned Palantir for supplying surveillance and data-analytics tools in military operations. The company's deployment alongside other systems is believed to have contributed to the "widespread scale" and tempo of Operation Epic Fury, an operation that initiated the Iran war in 2026.
European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius stated that Palantir is a great company and that AI development on the battlefield is necessary for modern warfare doctrines. He highlighted the importance of Ukrainian's Delta system for data management in battlefields, which aligns with the emerging trend of AI and data-driven defense technologies.
Meanwhile, the European Commission defended the International Criminal Court (ICC) against US President Donald Trump's recent outbursts during his UN General Assembly address. The EU expressed its strong commitment to the fight against impunity and the ICC's role in protecting human rights. The European Parliament is expected to support the activation of a blocking statute to protect EU companies and entities from sanctions, despite the Commission's reluctance to do so.
Additionally, the UN prepares to approve a declaration recognizing statehood and UN membership for countries severely impacted by climate change, such as sinking islands. These include Pacific nations like Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and European infrastructure challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
