Emerging Technologies Redefining Global Conflicts

Western defense experts are cautioning that the world is entering an unprecedented era of technological warfare, extending beyond conventional battlefields into hidden realms that target human cognition, climate, and artificial intelligence software. As nations focus on advanced drones and aircraft, even more perilous technologies are reportedly being developed in military laboratories, according to a report from French magazine Le Point.



1. The Battle for Minds: Directly Targeting the Brain

The magazine highlights the rise of what is termed "cognitive warfare," which involves techniques designed to influence an opponent's brain remotely through methods such as microwaves, scents, physiological substances, and low-frequency sounds.

A senior official from the French Ministry of Armed Forces stated:
"Deceiving the enemy's brain will be crucial in future wars... We are now capable of creating our own nightmares."

It is estimated that incapacitating an entire submarine crew could be achieved without firing a single shot, making these technologies among the most dangerous tools in unconventional conflict.



2. Choking Global Trade Routes

With 90% of international trade conducted by sea, concerns are growing over potential attacks on maritime transport lines using simple yet effective tools like surface drones and submarines.

International risk expert Stéphane Audrand noted:
"It is not necessary to sink ships... merely maintaining a constant threat is sufficient."

The magazine explains that inexpensive drones could soon disrupt massive cargo ships, while the French navy trains to counter swarms of these drones "day and night without warning."



3. Climate Weapons: Flooding the Enemy and Blocking the Sun

Climate engineering, once a Soviet dream, has advanced significantly and could become sensitive military tools, such as:

Injecting clouds to flood specific areas.

Dispersing aerosols in the upper atmosphere to block sunlight.

Whitening clouds to disable satellites.

Thinning high-altitude clouds to raise temperatures in targeted regions.


The report describes these technologies as capable of creating "disasters akin to legends."



4. Poisoning Artificial Intelligence: A Silent Threat to Intelligent Systems

Experts warn that data poisoning and tampering with the foundational software of artificial intelligence could lead to a total collapse of military capabilities.

A European expert explained:
"If learning networks are contaminated with digital toxins, artificial intelligence will self-destruct."

Researcher Olivier Blazy added that simple manipulation could lead an intelligent model to classify one country as an ally and another as an enemy, citing past incidents like the 1991 "Patriot" missile error that resulted in the deaths of 28 U.S. soldiers.


Silent Wars

The report concludes that future wars will be fought in silent realms: within the human brain, above the atmosphere, and deep within software codes, as military engineers – according to the magazine – "create their own nightmares with their own hands."