In an interview with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, Biden acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating that he had consulted with allies and lawmakers before making the move.
The decision comes as Ukraine faces a shortage of ammunition in its conflict with Russia.
July 09, 2023
Cluster munitions are artillery shells that disperse smaller explosive submunitions over a wide area, increasing their lethality by targeting multiple locations. However, two-thirds of NATO alliance members, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the Czech Republic, have banned the use of cluster munitions due to their track record of causing civilian casualties.
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The Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer, production, and stockpiling of these weapons, has been ratified by 111 nations, but not by Russia, Ukraine, or the United States.
July 09, 2023
Human Rights Watch has urged world leaders not to supply cluster munitions to either Ukrainian forces or invading Russian troops, citing the foreseeable danger to civilians. Mary Wareham, acting arms director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that cluster munitions used by both Russia and Ukraine are currently killing civilians and will continue to do so for years to come.
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Wareham called for an immediate halt to the use of these weapons by both sides and criticized the transfer of cluster munitions, stating that it undermines global efforts to ban them.
It is worth noting that most cluster munitions in current stocks are at least 20 years old and are becoming increasingly unreliable, with high failure rates. Wareham argued that the US government should not be providing cluster munitions to any country due to the foreseeable harm they pose to civilians.
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National security adviser Jake Sullivan, however, assured reporters that the cluster munitions the US will be sending to Ukraine have failure rates far below those of the munitions used by Russia.
Sullivan explained that Ukraine has requested cluster munitions to defend its sovereign territory, and the ones provided by the US will have a maximum failure rate of 2.5%.
President Biden described the cluster bombs as a temporary solution while the US works on producing more compatible artillery shells for the Ukrainians. He acknowledged the scarcity of ammunition and the need to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
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The decision to provide cluster munitions was not taken lightly, according to Biden, and he took the recommendation of the Defense Department into account. The president emphasized that it was a difficult decision that required convincing.
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The move to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine has received support from former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who called it an excellent idea. Bolton argued that cluster bombs are effective at protecting troops and impeding the enemy, and that the Ukrainian military understands their value.
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However, he criticized the Biden administration for taking too long to make the decision, stating that aid should have been provided earlier.
The cluster munitions are part of an $800 million military aid package that the US will be sending to Ukraine. In addition to the munitions, the package includes Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles, as well as ammunition for howitzers and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher.
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Critics argue that the use of these weapons undermines global efforts to ban them and puts innocent lives at risk. However, supporters maintain that the cluster munitions will help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression and protect its troops.
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