Western Allies Divided Over US Decision to Support Ukraine with Cluster Bombs
UK, Spain, and Canada Oppose Use of Cluster Bombs
In a surprising turn of events, some Western allies, including Britain, Spain, and Canada, have openly expressed their opposition to the United States’ decision to provide cluster bomb support to Ukraine. Cluster bombs are banned by more than 100 countries globally, with the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating that the UK is a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitions (CWC), which strictly prohibits their production and use.
Sunak emphasized that while the UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, their role is limited to providing heavy armored tanks and long-range weapons, excluding cluster munitions. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles echoed this sentiment, stating that her country maintains a “strong commitment” to not send weapons, such as cluster munitions, to Ukraine.
The Canadian government also expressed its concern over the use of cluster bombs, particularly highlighting the potential danger of unexploded ordnance posing a long-term threat to the safety of children. Germany, as a signatory to the cluster munitions agreement, affirmed that it would not supply Ukraine with cluster munitions but acknowledged the United States’ decision.
Cluster Munitions: Indiscriminate and Controversial
A cluster munition is a weapon that contains multiple submunitions within a single bomb. Upon detonation, these submunitions disperse over a wide area, resulting in indiscriminate casualties. The use of cluster munitions has drawn criticism for its lack of precision, killing civilians and military personnel alike. Moreover, unexploded submunitions remain after conflicts, posing significant risks to civilian lives, particularly children.
The international community responded to these concerns in 2010 by establishing the Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, use, sale, and stockpiling of such weapons. Currently, 111 countries have joined the agreement, with 12 signatories. However, notable absentees include the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and both North and South Korea due to military conflicts or non-cooperation.
US Controversy and Rationale
US President Joe Biden recently defended the decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine, citing the urgent need to replenish their dwindling ammunition supplies. Despite acknowledging the controversy surrounding cluster munitions, Biden assured that support would only be provided until Ukraine can manufacture enough shells during the transitional period.
Undersecretary for Policy at the US Department of Defense, Colin Carle, further argued that US-delivered cluster munitions have a misfire rate of just 2.35%, significantly safer than those used by the Russian military, which have a misfire rate of 30 to 40%. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also assured that any use of cluster munitions would be limited to breaking through the Russian defense network, far from civilian-populated areas such as urban centers.
Russian Criticism and NATO’s Position
Russia, which attacked Ukraine last year, has already employed cluster bombs. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, criticized the United States’ decision as a sign of desperation and evidence of Ukraine’s failed counterattack operation.
Meanwhile, human rights organization Human Rights Watch condemned both Russia and Ukraine for causing civilian casualties through the use of cluster munitions. They called for an immediate cessation of cluster munitions in the war zone.
Regarding NATO’s stance on the cluster weapons agreement, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg clarified that the organization does not have an official position due to the differing perspectives of member states, with some signing the cluster weapons convention and others not committing to it.
As the dialogue surrounding the provision and usage of cluster bombs continues, it remains to be seen how Western allies will navigate their differing views on this contentious matter.
Article by Senior Reporter Park Byung-soo
International delegations and activists speak at a military base in the southern Lebanese city of Rabatie where cluster bombs are being stacked on September 12, 2011. AP Yonhap News
Even some Western allies, including Britain, Spain and Canada, openly opposed the US decision to support Ukraine with cluster bombs, banned from use by more than 100 countries around the world. world British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on the 8th (local time) that the UK is a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitions (CWC), which prohibits the production and use of cluster munitions. “We will continue to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, but that role is to provide us with heavy armored tanks and long-range weapons,” he said. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles also said she would maintain a “strong commitment” not to send certain weapons, such as cluster munitions, to Ukraine. In a statement, the Canadian government said it opposed the use of cluster bombs, saying it was “particularly concerned about the potential danger of cluster bombs remaining unexploded for long periods of time and later harming children.” German government spokesman Steffen Hebbestreit said in a statement that, as a signatory to the cluster munitions agreement, it would not supply cluster munitions to Ukraine, but that it understood the decision of the United States. A cluster munition is a weapon that contains many small bombs called ‘submunitions’ in one bomb. When it reaches the target after being launched, many submunitions inside the bomb explode in a wide area, causing many casualties. It is criticized for being immoral because it kills indiscriminately rather than targeting specific military targets. Many submunitions such as unexploded ordnance remain and threaten the lives of civilians, especially children, after the war. In 2010, the “Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitions”, an international agreement that prohibits the production, use, sale and stockpiling of cluster munitions, came into force. Currently, 111 countries have joined and 12 have signed. The United States, Russia and Ukraine have not joined, and South and North Korea also refuse to sign the agreement citing the military conflict. Earlier on the 7th, US President Joe Biden (CNN) said in an interview that he had struggled for a long time, but decided to provide cluster bombs because the Ukrainian army was running out of shells, and that he had informed allies of’ this fact. Aware of the controversy, President Biden also said, “We decided to support cluster bombs in Ukraine until enough shells are produced during the transition period.” Colin Carle, undersecretary for policy at the US Department of Defense, also argued that US-delivered cluster munitions have a fire rate of only 2.35%, and are much safer than the Russian military’s cluster munitions, which have misfire rate of 30 to 40%. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also stressed that it promises to use cluster munitions only when it breaks through the Russian defense network on the front line, not in areas where civilians live, such as urban areas. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the United States on the 8th, saying, “Providing cluster bombs (to Ukraine) is a sign of desperation and evidence of helplessness against the background of Ukraine’s failed counterattack operation.” Russia, which attacked Ukraine last year, already uses cluster bombs. Human Rights Watch, an American human rights organization, said on the 6th that Russia as well as Ukraine are causing civilian damage by using cluster munitions on the battlefield, and urged both countries to stop using cluster munitions at once. The North West Treaty Organization (NATO) has stated that it does not have an official NATO position on the cluster weapons agreement. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that “NATO does not have an official position because some members have signed the cluster weapons convention and some have not.” he said. Senior Reporter Park Byung-soo suh@hani.co.kr
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