While the world’s attention remains fixated on tanks, missiles, and drones over battlefields in Ukraine and the Middle East, a quieter but no less insidious threat is growing in the shadows – chemical weapons.
At the Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats, held from 5th to 8th May, more than 300 delegates from over 100 countries sounded the alarm on a new frontier of danger: the intersection of chemical weapons and artificial intelligence.
The conference, co-implemented by INTERPOL, Global Affairs Canada, the FBI, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), concluded with a clear message: the world is dangerously unprepared for the pace and complexity of emerging chemical threats.
Chemical security, once seen as a technical and largely national issue, is fast becoming a global priority — one that transcends borders, sectors, and disciplines. As Major General Al-Maaytah (pictured) of Jordan’s Public Security Directorate warned, “Chemical security is no longer only a national or regional responsibility, but rather a global priority requiring significant cooperation between governments and institutions.”
This cooperation, however, remains patchy at best. Regulatory frameworks are fragmented. Hazardous chemical precursors continue to be diverted into the wrong hands. Emerging technologies — from AI-generated synthesis instructions to drone-borne dispersal systems — have made the logistics of mass harm terrifyingly simple.
What was once the preserve of state-sponsored laboratories is increasingly within reach of non-state actors. AI, in particular, is no longer just a laboratory tool but a weapon in itself. The Congress heard disturbing assessments of how artificial intelligence is already being used by terrorist groups — from generating disinformation and propaganda to planning attacks with surgical precision.
The spectre of AI-facilitated chemical synthesis looms large. Combined with the proliferation of cyber tools capable of targeting critical infrastructure, including chemical storage sites and production facilities, the threat landscape has become markedly more unpredictable. The fear is no longer merely about rogue states, but rogue coders, armed with machine learning models and a grudge.
In response, the Congress put forward a series of recommendations to harden global defences. Chief among them is the creation of a centralised chemical database — a global repository that tracks chemicals of concern and enables swift information sharing. This would, in theory, allow governments and private actors to detect unusual procurement patterns and shut down illicit supply chains more effectively.
Also high on the agenda is the strengthening of regional and international networks, particularly through platforms coordinated by INTERPOL. “Chemical security is a global responsibility that demands our collective attention and action,” said INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi in his closing remarks. “We must commit to fostering a culture of shared responsibility and strengthen partnerships across borders, sectors, and disciplines to create a safer, more secure future for all.”
The tone was one of urgent realism. Delegates acknowledged that while global efforts have improved since the Congress was launched in 2018, the rapid pace of technological change — particularly in AI — is outstripping current regulatory and security frameworks. The tools to do immense harm are now digital, scalable, and disturbingly accessible.
But it is not only AI that is changing the game. The growing use of uncrewed systems — drones in particular — has exponentially increased the risk of targeted chemical attacks. These systems allow for dispersal methods previously considered unfeasible for non-state actors, enabling delivery of toxic substances into densely populated areas without warning.
Despite the grim assessments, there was a prevailing sense of determination. Public-private partnerships are being prioritised, and there is growing recognition that industry — especially the chemical and tech sectors — must be more tightly integrated into security frameworks. The Congress underscored the need for real-time information sharing and joint operational drills, echoing calls from security experts who believe traditional, siloed responses are no longer fit for purpose.
If there is one conclusion to draw from this high-level meeting, it is that the nature of chemical threats has shifted from the static to the dynamic, from the physical to the digital. In this new era, deterrence is not about stockpiles and treaties alone, but about algorithms, global coordination, and unrelenting vigilance.
Chemical warfare may once have conjured images of trench warfare and World War relics. Today, it could look like a lab-brewed toxin released by drone over a public square — or worse, a synthetic agent designed with the help of an AI tool downloaded from the internet.
The world is entering a new chapter in its long struggle against weapons of mass destruction. Whether governments and institutions can adapt swiftly enough to meet it remains to be seen. But the Global Congress has made one thing clear: failure to act together, and urgently, would be catastrophic.
