The Controversial Decision: US President Joe Biden Sends Cluster Weapons to Ukraine

The consequences of the arms delivery may have consequences far into the future.

The Russians have used cluster munitions in Ukraine since the outbreak of war last year. Here is an empty cluster munition container outside Kharkiv last summer. Photo: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

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On Friday, it became known that US President Joe Biden has made a controversial decision. He wants to give Ukraine cluster weapons cluster weapons Cluster weapons are bombs, grenades or warheads that contain many, sometimes hundreds, of small bombs. They can spread over a large area and detonate long after being released.

– Sending cluster munitions to Ukraine is the right thing to do, on Jake Sullivan. He is national security adviser to President Biden.

When Ukraine last asked for cluster munitions in February, Prime Minister Støre shook his head.

– It is completely out of the question, and I want to highlight that very clearly. We distance ourselves from all use of cluster munitions, said Støre.

NATO’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, also rejected the Ukrainian cluster weapon wish at the time. He pointed out that NATO has neither recommended nor supplied this type of weapon.

In light of Biden’s cluster weapon yes, Stoltenberg was asked whether it was necessary and wise.

He answered that it is up to the individual member states to decide what kind of weapons they want to give to Ukraine, and that NATO as an alliance “has no position on the cluster weapons convention”.

Very problematic but effective

The use of cluster munitions is controversial. More than 120 countries have signed on to the UN Convention which prohibits the weapon. Neither the USA nor Ukraine are among them.

– It is very problematic to use cluster munitions. Much because of the injuries and suffering that can affect civilians long after the war is over, says Tom Røseth to Aftenposten.

He is the head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy.

Undetonated explosive charges from cluster munitions can remain for many years after hostilities have ended. There’s for example still undetonated explosive elements from cluster munitions used in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The war ended in 1975.

Tom Røseth is head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy.

Photo: Defense

– It is not without reason that Norway has been at the forefront of limiting the use of such weapons.

In addition, the use of cluster munitions entails an extensive need for demining. It is a challenging task with such small explosive devices, he explains.

The Pentagon says it will deliver the weapon quickly enough that it can be used against the Russian trenches in the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive, according to Reuters.

The weapon will be effective there, Røseth believes.

– It is a good weapon against personnel in fortified positions such as trenches, for example. The use of cluster munitions will ease the task of Ukrainian ground forces that will occupy these positions.

Fact

Class weapon

Bombs, grenades or warheads that open up in the air and launch tens or hundreds of smaller explosive charges over a larger area.

It often also hits civilians, who have their arms or legs torn off. Children are particularly vulnerable to cluster bombs, because they become curious about the small and sometimes colorful objects with different shapes lying on the ground.

Undetonated explosive charges from cluster munitions can remain for many years after hostilities have ended.

Norway was a strong promoter of establishing an international ban on cluster munitions, and in 2008 an international agreement was adopted.

The convention entered into force in 2010, and 110 countries have ratified it. 13 countries have signed but not ratified.

Countries such as Russia, the United States, Ukraine, China and Iran have not joined the convention and have large quantities of cluster munitions in their arsenals.

Source: NTB

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A sign of ammo shortage

The cluster munitions can be fired with weapon systems already in use in Ukraine. That makes them extra useful now that the West is struggling to produce enough artillery shells, and stocks are dwindling.

Røseth believes that this is one explanation for the US’s decision.

– Giving cluster munitions has been a long time coming. It is about a precarious need for ammunition. The US therefore sees itself having to remove its large stockpiles of cluster munitions.

President Biden himself has justified the decision with “the Ukrainians running out of ammunition”.

Several Western allies have expressed concern about the US’s cluster munitions – yes. Among others the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He emphasizes that Great Britain advise against using the weapon.

Canada and Spain have also reacted. They condemn the use of the weapon.

Røseth is nevertheless confident that this will not affect the cohesion of the defense alliance. He points out that various NATO countries have made different assessments of which weapons systems they want to send to Ukraine.

– But it causes reactions from humanitarian organisations, who have seen the damage cluster weapons can cause in areas that have been affected by war, he says.

Among those responding is Norwegian People’s Aid. On Twitter they write that “there is a reason why 123 states have banned this beastly type of weapon”.

Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, calls cluster munitions “heinous”.

Existential war

NATO leaders will gather in Vilnius shortly. There, Biden will present the plan for the delivery of the weapon.

Ukraine has given written assurances that it will use cluster munitions with care. This is to minimize the risk to civilians. It writes Reuters.

Røseth believes that such assurances are important, as they prevent further escalation between the US and Russia.

– Ukraine wants cluster weapons, knowing that this will have consequences on its own territory for a long time. They consider it so important to defeat the enemy, and thus win an existential war, that they take the cost and the risk that the use of the weapon poses for these areas later.

Cluster munitions were used in Syria over several years. Here, deminers have collected several small, undetonated explosive devices to carry out a controlled explosion. Picture from 2016. Photo: Khalil Ashawi / Reuters

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A year ago, Røseth co-authored a column in Aftenposten. There, it was advocated for stepping up arms support to Ukraine.

– Is it obvious that cluster munitions are part of this escalation?

– No. I would most like them to get large quantities of regular artillery ammunition. Protection of civilians is important, also in war. But if the alternative is that Ukraine runs out of ammunition, then I understand that they resort to cluster munitions. I am absolutely no fan of the weapon, and would prefer to see it completely gone.

2023-07-09 15:44:41
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