Title: Biden Administration to Provide Ukraine with Controversial Cluster Bombs in New Weapons Package
Subtitle: The controversial move has sparked concerns over civilian casualties and long-term consequences
By Haley Ott, CBS News International Reporter
London, [Date]
The Biden administration revealed on Friday that the new weapons package for Ukraine would include cluster bombs, a contentious type of weapon that the United States has not previously provided to the country. The package will specifically consist of 155mm DPICMs (dual-purpose improved conventional munitions), adding to the ongoing debate surrounding their usage and impact.
But what exactly are cluster bombs? Cluster bombs are weapons designed to disperse smaller bombs, known as submunitions or bomblets, over a large area. They can be deployed from the air, ground, or sea, releasing dozens or hundreds of bomblets that disperse across the targeted area. While their initial purpose was to destroy multiple dispersed military targets during World War II, their controversial nature is deserving of further examination.
Cluster bombs pose immediate threats to anyone within the detonation zone, potentially resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Moreover, a significant number of the bomblets may fail to explode immediately, making them a long-lasting hazard that can cause harm or death to people even years after deployment.
The controversy surrounding cluster bombs stems from several factors. The International Committee of the Red Cross reports that the failure rate of cluster bomblets, commonly referred to as the “dud rate,” ranges from 10% to 40% in recent conflicts. This has led to regions and countries being infested with unexploded and highly unstable submunitions, posing an ongoing threat to civilians.
Civilians, particularly children, are the primary victims of cluster bombs. According to the Landmine and Cluster Munitions Monitor, in 2021, out of 141 casualties caused by cluster bomb remnants, 97% were civilians, and two-thirds of those were children. Loren Persi, editor of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2022 report, emphasized the urgent need for clearing contaminated areas, educating children about the risks associated with unexploded bomblets, and providing support to victims and their families.
Although 123 countries are signatories of the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, banning the production, transfer, stockpiling, and use of cluster munitions, neither Russia, Ukraine, nor the United States have ratified the treaty. Cluster bombs have been extensively used in conflicts such as the Gulf War, Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Ukraine has previously encountered the use of cluster munitions by Russia during the ongoing conflict. Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the defense and security think tank RUSI, highlighted the potential benefits of cluster munitions for Ukrainian troops in countering Russia’s invasion. He stated that cluster munitions are instrumental in clearing large numbers of infantry and engaging armored vehicles and fixed positions more effectively.
In the case of the newly announced weapons package for Ukraine, the Biden administration claims that the “dud rate” is less than 2.35%, falling below the threshold set by current U.S. law. Restrictions exist on transferring cluster munitions if the “dud rate” exceeds 1%. Although concerns have been raised about potential civilian casualties, the U.S. government aims to provide lower “dud rate” rounds supported by recent testing data.
Meanwhile, international attention has turned to NATO’s position on cluster bombs. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg clarified that the alliance does not hold a collective stance on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, as some member countries have ratified the treaty while others have not. The decision to provide weapons and military supplies to Ukraine ultimately rests with individual NATO member states.
The inclusion of cluster bombs in the new weapons package for Ukraine has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns over civilian casualties and long-term consequences. It remains to be seen how this development will affect the ongoing conflict and international discourse surrounding the use of cluster munitions.
[Eleanor Watson contributed to this report]
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Author Bio: Haley Ott is an international reporter for CBS News based in London.