Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad at the Third Plenary: “Strengthening Future Security through Artificial Intelligence (AI)"

A very good afternoon, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. 

Introduction

I would like to thank the Republic of Korea (ROK) for the chance to speak at this plenary, and to congratulate you on the launch of today’s session at the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD).  

We live in uncertain times. The rules-based order we are so familiar with, that has brought global stability, is under strain. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Multilateral institutions come under pressure.

For us in the defence community, the number of state-based conflicts is now at its highest since World War II. In many of these conflicts and grey zone activities, the use of technology is advancing rapidly. Conflicts and threats around the world have spurred innovation in military and dual-use capabilities.

Evolving Nature of Threats

The nature of threats has evolved. First, security used to be defined by geography.  Today, threats are global and interconnected. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are now common. Disinformation has now become a powerful weapon. AI-generated deepfakes and botfarms manipulate narratives, weaken trust in institutions and even influence elections.

Second, we are also seeing more asymmetric threats on the battlefield. The Russia-Ukraine war shows how low-cost drones are used for both reconnaissance and strikes. These attacks are now faster and cheaper. In 2022, when the conflict started, Russia launched major strikes once a month. Today with “suicide” drones, strikes happen every eight days. The most recent strike, which occurred a few days ago, involved several hundred drones and missiles into Ukraine – the largest scale since the conflict began. So, we now see the battlefield evolving — it is faster, more complex, and more innovative. And militaries must respond with agility.

The problem with today’s environment is that innovation has outpaced governance. AI is rewriting the rules of warfare, but if we do not write the rules in warfare, we risk losing humanity. Without guardrails, we risk escalation and miscalculation. We must act collectively to shape the rules of the road.

Global Multilateral Collaboration

No country can address this alone. To establish effective guardrails, countries need to work together, step up dialogue, and develop a shared understanding of how new technologies and capabilities should be used in conflicts and defence.

Singapore remains committed to supporting dialogue and collaboration at multilateral and regional levels. We were honoured to chair the United Nations (UN) Open Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies, from 2021 to 2025. During these five years, states had engaged in substantive discussions on emerging threats, the application of international law to cyberspace and confidence building measures.

In July this year, the UN Working Group concluded with two landmarks – a Final Report adopted by consensus, and the establishment of a new permanent mechanism from next year. This is a positive step forward that ensures there will always be a platform for dialogue and cooperation on cybersecurity at the UN.

Similarly, Singapore actively supports the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) process. We co-hosted the 2nd REAIM Summit held here in Seoul, last year. REAIM was the first global platform to discuss military AI. It produced a 2023 Call to Action and 2024 Blueprint for Action — both were widely supported by many states.

Regional Multilateral Cooperation (ASEAN)

Regional cooperation is just as vital. ASEAN’s security architecture has underpinned our stability and growth for many decades. But our approach to emerging technologies must reflect regional realities.

Thus, I am encouraged to also see significant progress in ASEAN. Two regional initiatives have been established – the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics that was published last year, and the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap published this year. These are critical foundations for trust and responsible adoption of AI by ASEAN Member States.

This year, ASEAN defence ministers issued a Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence. This was the first on military AI at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) — and a clear signal of our commitment to the responsible use of AI in defence.

Singapore also helped launch the ADMM Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE) in 2023. ACICE promotes multilateral information sharing and capacity building to deal with cyberattacks, disinformation and misinformation. One key deliverable of ACICE is the Malware Information Sharing Platform, which provides ASEAN Member States exclusive access to tactical and technical information related to cybersecurity and information threats.

Dialogue is the Driver of Progress

Dialogue is also essential to drive progress. Without dialogue, there is no trust, no international cooperation, and no collective progress. Since 2012, the Seoul Defence Dialogue has contributed to multilateral security cooperation by bringing together senior government officials and civilian security experts. Multilateral platforms, such as the Seoul Defence Dialogue and Shangri-La Dialogue, serve as useful forums to foster constructive conversations across governments, industries and academia.

To address emerging technologies, including AI, ACICE also hosts the annual Digital Defence Symposium. This year, ACICE gathered 300 defence officials, experts and academics from 31 countries — including the US and China — to tackle cyber and information threats together.

Conclusion

To conclude, ladies and gentlemen, it is clear that emerging technologies will shape the future of security. Autonomous does not mean unaccountable. AI may accelerate the battlefield, but humans must still own the consequences. Technology is a tool. Technology does not choose sides. We decide how technologies like AI are to be used — whether to divide, or to unite; to dominate, or to defend our common humanity.

We must build and defend a global, rules-based order for the digital age. This means working across borders, sectors and ideologies. Because peace and stability in tomorrow’s world will depend on how wisely we govern today’s tools.

Our nations must come together to set sensible “rules of the road” to govern emerging technologies and shape this governance architecture. We must remain committed to open and inclusive dialogue. Because only together can we ensure that emerging technologies are used to strengthen international security and contribute to global stability.

Thank you.

More Resources

Dialogue Essential to Drive Progress: Mr Zaqy Mohamad at the Seoul Defense Dialogue 2025