OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada Opposes U.S. Supply of Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
In the face of the U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions to aid in their efforts against Russian forces, Canada is standing firm against the use of these weapons. Ottawa reiterated its commitment to the Oslo agreement, which prohibits the use of cluster munitions.
As part of a new $800 million security package, the U.S. announced on Friday its plan to supply Kyiv with banned cluster bombs. This brings the total U.S. military aid to over $40 billion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
While Ukraine welcomed the U.S. decision and emphasized that the munitions would not be used in Russia, Canada remains steadfast in its opposition. Cluster munitions often release numerous smaller bomblets that can cause indiscriminate casualties over a wide area. Unexploded bomblets continue to pose a threat long after a conflict has ended.
Speaking on the matter, the Canadian government stated, “We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to ending the devastating effects these weapons have on civilians, particularly children.”
Germany, another U.S. ally, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have also voiced their opposition to the U.S. supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions, signed in Oslo in 2008, prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of these weapons. While more than 100 countries are signatories to the Convention, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed on.
Highlighting Canada’s compliance with the Convention, the federal government stated, “Canada fully adheres to the Convention and takes its obligation to promote its universal adoption seriously.”
Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, Canada has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters. Since last year, it has committed billions of dollars in financial, military, humanitarian, and other forms of assistance.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
