During a conference of Allied Defence Ministers in February, NATO Allies made history by establishing the first international plan to regulate the responsible research and use of biotechnologies and human enhancement technologies. NATO made the policy public on Friday, April 12, 2024.
By implementing a well-informed, gender-sensitive, and values-based approach, NATO has positioned itself as an ethical leader in biotech and human enhancement technologies, in response to the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology and its expected influence on defence and security. The objective is to safely and lawfully adopt these novel solutions, cultivate a rapport with inventors and the general public, and safeguard the Alliance from strategic rivals and possible enemies abusing these technology. The approach will be implemented with utmost respect for current norms and practices, including bioethics, as well as international law. Applications relating to biotechnology will be consistent with NATO’s defensive orientation. It can include developing wearable health technology, using biosensors to improve the identification of chemical and biological dangers, and creating various biomaterials that can shield and heal military members.
In the upcoming months, specialized research on the advantages and difficulties associated with this kind of application will begin. In 2019, emerging disruptive technologies that are prioritized were biotechnology and human enhancement technologies.
