US President Joe Biden has arrived in the UK ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania. However, his decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine has raised concerns among some allies, including the UK and Canada, due to the potential harm they pose to civilians. Biden is scheduled to meet with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss various matters, including the Ukrainian conflict. While the UK has voiced its commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, other NATO partners, such as New Zealand, have criticized the use of such munitions. The US claims that Ukraine requires them as its weapon stocks are depleting. Biden will also have his first meeting with King Charles during his UK visit.
The NATO summit in Vilnius will focus on increasing ammunition stockpiles and reviewing defense plans. Finland, attending its first summit since joining in April, seeks to follow Sweden’s footsteps, but Turkey has blocked Sweden’s entry, accusing it of harboring terrorists. Biden is expected to seek Sunak’s assistance in brokering a deal with Turkey. Ukraine aims to join NATO but understands that it can only do so once the conflict is resolved. Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is anticipated to attend the summit. The decision to supply cluster bombs was part of an $800 million military aid package for Ukraine. While some NATO allies, like Canada and Spain, oppose this decision, Germany, another signatory of the treaty, understands the American position.
One concern about cluster bombs is their failure rate and the indiscriminate detonation of unexploded bomblets. The US claims that their cluster bombs have a lower failure rate compared to those used by Russia in the Ukrainian conflict. Ukraine has pledged not to use the weapons in civilian areas and will monitor and report on their use, but Russia dismisses these assurances. Biden’s visit to the UK occurs at a critical time for the US-led NATO alliance, with tensions surrounding his absence from King Charles’ coronation and the selection of the next NATO secretary general. The UK and Baltic states support the British Defense Secretary for the role, but Biden appears to favor the former German defense minister and European Commission head. Additionally, the supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine has sparked international criticism, although any disagreements are expected to be addressed diplomatically during Biden’s brief UK visit.