US Plans to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine in a controversial decision
In a highly contentious move, the United States has announced its intention to send a cluster munitions package to Ukraine to support its counteroffensive against Russia. This decision, which has been postponed due to concerns about potential civilian harm, has raised significant alarm and sparked widespread debate. Ukraine has been requesting these weapons for months, citing an ammunition shortage as a pressing concern. However, cluster munitions, banned by more than 100 countries, have ignited controversies due to the risks they pose and their impact on civilian populations.
US President Joe Biden, acknowledging the complexity of the decision, revealed in a cable TV interview that it was a difficult choice to send cluster munitions. He emphasized consulting with allies and seeking input from congressional members to arrive at this resolution. Biden expressed that the primary motivation behind this decision was Ukraine’s dwindling ammunition supplies, leaving them vulnerable in their defense against Russian aggression.
The announcement has prompted concerns among allied nations, and President Biden may face scrutiny at an upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking at a White House briefing, acknowledged the risks associated with cluster munitions, particularly the potential for civilian harm due to unexploded ordnance. Sullivan emphasized that Ukraine would use these munitions to defend its own country, rather than deploying them in foreign lands. He further stated that Ukraine, facing an artillery shortage, requires a temporary supply bridge until the United States can ramp up domestic production.
The controversial nature of cluster munitions lies in their failure rate, also known as the “dud” rate. Unexploded bomblets from cluster munitions can remain on the ground for extended periods and detonate unpredictably, posing grave risks to civilians. Sullivan highlighted that the cluster munitions to be sent to Ukraine have a dud rate of less than 2.5%, significantly lower than the estimated 30-40% dud rate associated with Russian cluster munitions.
While the exact quantity of cluster munitions to be sent was not specified in the Pentagon’s news briefing, spokesperson Colin Kahl mentioned the availability of “hundreds of thousands.” US law prohibits the transfer of cluster munitions with a bomblet failure rate exceeding 1%, indicating that more than 1% of the bomblets fail to explode. However, President Biden retains the ability to bypass this rule.
A United Nations investigation has raised suspicions that Ukraine may have already employed cluster bombs, although the country denies these allegations. Similarly, allegations have been made against Russia for using cluster bombs early in the conflict, with the White House deeming such actions a potential “war crime.”
Reports suggest that the US plans to send artillery shells to Ukraine, each containing 88 separate bomblets. These shells would be fired from Howitzer artillery weapons already in use by the Ukrainian army.
In addition to cluster munitions, the Biden administration’s weapons package for Ukraine, valued at $800 million (£626 million), includes Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, air defense missiles, and anti-mine equipment.
Human rights organizations have strongly urged Russia and Ukraine to refrain from using cluster munitions, and they have called on the United States to abstain from supplying them. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reiterated its plea to all countries to cease the use of cluster bombs, emphasizing the long-term dangers they pose. The widespread dispersion of small bomblets, many of which fail to explode immediately, can result in casualties and injuries years after their deployment.
In addition to human rights concerns, some US lawmakers have voiced their opposition to sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, arguing that the humanitarian costs outweigh any potential battlefield advantages.
Despite more than 120 countries committing to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, agreeing to avoid the use, production, transfer, or storage of such devices, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have not ratified the agreement.
In conclusion, the decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine has ignited significant controversy and raised serious ethical questions. The potential risks to civilian populations and the long-lasting dangers posed by unexploded ordnance are critical concerns. As the situation unfolds, the impact of this decision on the ongoing conflict and the relationships between the involved parties remains uncertain.
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