The recent decision by the United States to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs has raised unease among its allies. President Joe Biden, while acknowledging it as a difficult choice, confirmed the controversial weapons’ shipment to Ukraine. However, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain have all voiced their opposition to the use of such munitions due to their indiscriminate nature and potential harm to civilians.
Cluster bombs have been banned by over 100 countries globally due to the significant risks they pose to non-combatants. These munitions release numerous smaller bomblets, causing widespread casualties over a large area. Moreover, concerns have been raised about their failure rate, as unexploded bomblets can remain hazardous for years before unexpectedly detonating.
President Biden, in an interview, revealed that he consulted with allies before making the decision as part of an $800 million military aid package. However, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, strongly criticized the move, highlighting the grave threat to civilian lives, even after the conflict ends.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan defended the decision, stating that the American cluster bombs sent to Ukraine have a significantly lower failure rate compared to those used by Russia. However, some Western allies of the US refused to endorse this choice.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the UK’s commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, use, and promotion of such weapons. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the indiscriminate damage caused by cluster bombs. Spain’s Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, reaffirmed her country’s stance against the use of cluster bombs and the need for Ukraine’s legitimate defense to refrain from their use. Canada also expressed concern, particularly regarding the potential impact on children, and reaffirmed compliance with the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Notably, while Germany understands the American position, it stated that it would not supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, as it is a signatory to the treaty.
Ukraine’s defense minister assured that the cluster bombs would be used solely to penetrate enemy defense lines and not in urban areas. However, critics argue that the use of such munitions should cease immediately, as advocated by the UN Human Rights Office and the US Cluster Munition Coalition.
Russia, which has used cluster bombs during the conflict, denounced the US decision as an act of desperation and evidence of the failure of Ukraine’s counter-offensive. President Vladimir Putin has previously accused the US and its allies of engaging in a proxy war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s military campaign continues in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions, but insufficient firepower has hindered progress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to President Biden for the timely military aid package.