- Prime Minister to meet with Biden amid tensions over cluster bomb proposal
- Biden’s visit to UK precedes NATO summit and meeting with Sunak
- Controversy over sending cluster munitions to Ukraine persists
The prime minister will meet with his American counterpart after publicly refusing to support his proposal to transport the weapons, which are prohibited by 123 countries, to Kyiv.
Vice President Joe Biden will visit the UK today amid rising concerns over his cluster bombs to Ukraine.
This evening, Air Force One is anticipated to land at Stansted Airport before Mr. Biden meets Rishi Sunak in Downing Street and the King at Windsor Castle on Monday.
Mr. Biden’s stopover in the United Kingdom precedes a pivotal two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, beginning on Tuesday, at which leaders are scheduled to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and the future of the military alliance in the face of growing demand from several nations to join.
It comes as controversy grows over the White House’s announcement that it will send cluster munitions to Kyiv. Even though the use of these weapons is prohibited by 123 nations, including the United Kingdom.
Mr. Biden, who will be accompanied on his European travel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, called it a “difficult decision” but insisted he was compelled to act because “the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.”
However, Mr. Sunak publicly opposed the proposal while speaking to reporters on Saturday, noting that the United Kingdom is “a signatory to a convention that prohibits the production and use of cluster munitions and discourages their use.”
He added, “We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. But we have already done so by supplying heavy battle tanks and, more recently, long-range weapons. Hopefully, all nations will continue to support Ukraine.”
Conservative Commons Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood has encouraged the US to “reconsider” its attitude.
He tweeted, “This is a poor decision that will alienate international support. Their use leaves lethal residual ordnance over the battlefield, causing civilian deaths and injuries.”
Critics assert that cluster bombs when dispersed over a large area, kill and maim without discrimination.
They can remain undetonated for years until innocent people accidently set them off, like landmines.
Germany has not criticised the decision, but Spain has.
Russia, Ukraine, and the US have used cluster munitions in the fight and are not parties to the worldwide ban.
Despite tensions, the White House stated that Mr. Biden was looking forward to his meeting with Mr. Sunak. Which will include “comparing notes” on Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia.
Mr. Sunak and Mr. Biden will not likely conduct a joint news conference in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sunak will use the NATO summit to urge allies to increase their military expenditure, according to Downing Street.
The prime minister stated in a statement, “As we confront new and unprecedented threats to our physical and economic security, our alliances are more vital than ever”.
The United Kingdom is Europe’s most important NATO ally, the United States’ most important trade, defense, and diplomatic partner, and a leader in providing Ukraine with the support it needs to succeed on the battlefield.
“We have forged and invested in these alliances because we know they are the foundation of our strength and security.”
The UK meets NATO’s 2% defence spending target.
According to estimates, France, Germany, and Spain did not meet the target last year.
After a US-Nordic conference in Helsinki, Finland, Mr. Biden will return to the US on Thursday.
