Trust in technology is non-negotiable, especially in sectors such as defence, aerospace, and critical infrastructure. This translates directly into questions like ‘who controls the tech stack, how does it behave under stress, and can we prove its trustworthiness?’
That is why, as countries modernise defence and critical systems with artificial Intelligence, the priority should be to rely on sovereign, explainable, and cyber‑secure AI, which is governed domestically. It must be transparent to those who use and regulate it, and resilient by design.
This rests on three qualities:
First, sovereignty: nations must have total command over data, models, and infrastructure across their lifecycle. Second, security by design: resilience must be engineered into every layer, from sensors and hardware to software and operations. Third, explainability: machine decisions must be inspectable and defensible by operators and regulators.
When countries can count on AI systems designed to meet sovereignty expectations, they can protect the data that drives critical decisions while ensuring compliance and accountability. They create stronger returns by nurturing local talent and innovation. Just as importantly, sovereign AI gives governments and industries the confidence to innovate freely, without compromising autonomy or exposing citizens’ data to unknown risks.
Nations such as the UAE are building strong digital foundations across defence, aerospace, and AI-powered public services. The UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 and its advanced cybersecurity agenda reflect the powerful idea that in today’s world, digital strength rests on controlling your own data, algorithms, and infrastructure.
Cybersecurity lies at the heart of this. True sovereignty is impossible without cyber resilience. As threats grow more complex, every layer of security, from satellites to data centres, must be secure by design. Today, when a single breach can disrupt economies or endanger lives, cybersecurity has become a matter of national stability.
Technology alone cannot build confidence and systems must be explainable as well as intelligent. Pilots, engineers, and commanders need to understand how an algorithm reaches a particular conclusion. When systems can explain their reasoning, and not just their results, they become reliable partners rather than serve as black boxes. This is paramount in critical environments where public security or even lives may be at stake.
Nations that want to turn trust technology into a genuine strategic advantage should take this pragmatic route: Build domestic capability by investing in talent, and invest in research centres and collaborative initiatives to develop technologies that work in every environment. The collaboration must be governed through transparent rules for IP, data access, and export control.
In this fast-paced world, they should also address design architecture that can absorb new waves of disrupting technology such as post‑quantum cryptography and neuromorphic advances without compromising on control or compliance.
The UAE offers a strong example of how bold innovation and strong governance can progress together. Its AI-powered regulatory ecosystem connects laws and public services, speeding up decision-making while ensuring accountability. The nation’s data protection laws and ethical AI guidelines ensure collective responsibility by every stakeholder.
In critical environments, the leaders of the next era will not be those who deploy AI the fastest, but those who can demonstrate, over the long term, that their systems are sovereign, secure, and explainable.
This opinion is authored by Pascale Sourisse, President & CEO, Thales International.
