Several European Partners Will not Join US in Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

Several European NATO members said they would not be joining the Biden Administration’s “difficult decision” to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions.

The Details: As of Saturday, Spain, Germany, Canada, and the U.K. said they won’t send cluster munitions to Ukraine, citing commitments to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which 111 countries have signed. Nine NATO states have not signed the Convention: Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and the U.S. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the Convention. 

For Context: U.S. officials previously accused Russia of using cluster munitions in Ukraine. In February 2022, the Biden Administration said the use of such weapons would be a “war crime.” Recently, Ukrainian forces have reportedly been supplied with cluster munitions by Turkey. The administration’s decision has also caused controversy domestically.

Key Quotes: “Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances,” said Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles. A Canadian government statement said, “We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declined to comment on the U.S. decision but said Friday that member states were free to make their own decisions.

How The Media Covered It: Specific instances of countries expressing their opposition to cluster munitions have been covered selectively by mainstream outlets across the spectrum.