WASHINGTON — The United States and more than 40 other countries issued a declaration late Wednesday laying out principles they said should govern the export and use of armed drones.
The declaration aimed also to ensure they do not cause instability or help terrorism and organized crime.
Many US allies such as Britain, Germany and Australia were among the countries that signed the declaration released by the U.S. State Department.
France, Israel, Brazil, Russia and China, among other countries, did not sign the "Joint Declaration for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)." "Recognizing that misuse of armed or strike-enabled UAVs could fuel conflict and instability, and facilitate terrorism and organized crime, the international community must take appropriate transparency measures to ensure the responsible export and subsequent use of these systems," the declaration said.
It said international laws on armed conflict and human rights should apply to the use of armed drones, and exports should be consistent with existing multilateral export control and non-proliferation regimes.
(Petra)
