Lord Ricketts, the UK’s first national security adviser, has revealed that NATO allies arming Ukraine are ‘uncomfortable’ with US President Joe Biden’s plan to send cluster bombs to the country. Speaking on the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News, Ricketts highlighted that the allies, with the exception of the Americans, have committed to a convention that prohibits the production, stockpiling, and use of these indiscriminate weapons. He emphasized the need to understand why Ukraine believes it requires these weapons, given the potential risks and consequences of the ongoing offensive.

Cluster bombs are weapons that disperse numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area, posing a threat to civilians long after conflicts have ended due to unexploded ordnance. The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits their use and stockpiling due to their indiscriminate impact on civilian populations. However, the US, Ukraine, and Russia are not signatories to the convention, and both Moscow and Kyiv have employed cluster munitions during the war.

UK Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, also expressed reservations about the use of cluster bombs in Ukraine. While acknowledging the necessity of properly arming Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, she emphasized that cluster munitions are not the appropriate weapons for this purpose. Reeves highlighted the concerns shared by other countries and stressed the long-lasting effects of such weapons on the battlefield and civilian populations.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently affirmed that Britain ‘discourages’ the use of cluster munitions following US President Biden’s decision to send these weapons to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia. During his meeting with Biden in London ahead of the NATO summit, Sunak reiterated that the UK is supporting Ukraine by providing tanks and long-range weapons.

FAQs

Q1: Can the US use cluster bombs?

A1: The Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was introduced in Oslo in 2008, prohibits the use of cluster bombs. Over 100 countries have signed the Convention, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of these weapons. However, notable non-signatories include Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.

Q2: Why is the US sending cluster bombs to Ukraine?

A2: On Friday, the United States revealed its plans to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions as a component of an $800 million security assistance package. Kyiv expressed that this decision would profoundly affect the psychological and emotional state of the Russian forces occupying their territory.