US Allies Express Concern Over US Decision to Supply Ukraine with Cluster Bombs
Several allies of the US have expressed unease at Washington’s decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs. The US confirmed on Friday that it was sending the controversial weapons to Ukraine, with President Joe Biden calling it a “very difficult decision”. In response, the UK, Canada, and Spain all pointed out that they were opposed to the use of the weapons.
Cluster bombs have been banned by more than 100 countries due to the danger they pose to civilians. These bombs typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Additionally, unexploded bomblets can pose a danger for decades after a conflict ends.
President Biden stated in an interview with CNN that he had spoken to allies about the decision, which was part of a military aid package worth $800 million. He explained that the decision was made because “the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition”.
Human rights groups quickly criticized the decision, with Amnesty International stating that cluster munitions pose “a grave threat to civilian lives, even long after the conflict has ended”. Some Western allies of the US also refused to endorse the decision. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted that the UK is a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use. Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated that her country had a “firm commitment” against sending certain weapons and bombs to Ukraine.
Canada expressed particular concern about the potential impact of the cluster bombs on children and reiterated its opposition to their use. The US, Ukraine, and Russia have not signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, while both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster bombs during the war.
Germany, a signatory of the treaty, stated that it would not provide such weapons to Ukraine but understood the American position. Ukraine’s defence minister has given assurances that the cluster bombs would not be used in urban areas and only to break through enemy defense lines.
The decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs has caused controversy due to their failure rate, meaning unexploded small bombs can linger on the ground for years and detonate later on. Despite the US’s move, several NATO allies have distanced themselves from the decision. Russia, which has extensively used cluster munitions against Ukraine, condemned the decision, stating that it would litter the land for generations.
Former deputy commander of NATO in Europe, Gen Sir Richard Shirreff, defended the decision, stating that the deployment of cluster bombs should make it easier for Ukraine to break through Russian lines. He argued that if the West had provided more arms sooner, there would not have been a need for this weapon now.
The US’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan claimed that the American cluster bombs being sent to Ukraine were far safer than those already being used by Russia in the conflict. He stated that the US ones have a dud rate of less than 2.5%, while Russia’s have a dud rate of between 30-40%.
The US Cluster Munition Coalition, part of an international civil society campaign working to eradicate the weapons, said that the cluster bombs would cause “greater suffering, today and for decades to come”. The UN human rights office also criticized the use of such munitions, stating that they should stop immediately and not be used in any place.
Russia’s defense ministry described the move as an “act of desperation” and “evidence of impotence in the face of the failure of the much-publicized Ukrainian ‘counter-offensive'”. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed Ukraine’s assurances that it would use the cluster munitions responsibly as “not worth anything”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously accused the US and its allies of fighting an expanding proxy war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which began last month, is ongoing in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny expressed frustration with the slow deliveries of weapons promised by the West, stating that the campaign had been hampered by a lack of adequate firepower. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US president for the military aid package.
What are the concerns raised by human rights groups regarding the use of cluster munitions and their potential harm to civilians
Erations to come.
The US decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs has raised concerns among its allies. The UK, Canada, and Spain have all expressed opposition to the use of these weapons, which have been banned by over 100 countries due to their potential harm to civilians. Cluster bombs release numerous smaller bomblets that can cause indiscriminate casualties over a wide area, and unexploded bomblets pose a threat even long after a conflict ends.
President Biden acknowledged that the decision was a difficult one and explained that it was made because Ukraine was running out of ammunition. However, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the move, citing the serious threat cluster munitions pose to civilian lives. Some US allies, such as the UK and Spain, have highlighted their adherence to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production and use of these weapons.
Canada expressed particular concern about the impact of cluster bombs on children and restated its opposition to their use. Germany, a signatory of the treaty, stated that it would not provide such weapons to Ukraine but understood the US position. Ukraine’s defense minister has assured that the cluster bombs will only be used to break through enemy defense lines and not in urban areas.
The decision has sparked controversy due to the failure rate of cluster bombs, as unexploded bomblets can remain on the ground for years and detonate later. Several NATO allies have distanced themselves from the US decision, while Russia, which has used cluster munitions extensively in the conflict, condemned the move, warning of long-lasting environmental consequences.
