NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg doesn't see a problem with internationally banned cluster munitions... only when the US or its allies deploy them, apparently.
Without doubt if cluster bombs were being deployed by Russia or official US enemies, NATO would condemn it (and has in the past). But with the Biden administration now reportedly moving forward with sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, Stoltenberg has said that "Nato does not have a position on them" as some allies have signed up to prohibit their use and some haven’t.
He was specifically asked by a reporter about the wisdom of allowing them to be sent to the Ukrainians. He had further added in response, "This will be for governments to decide, not for Nato to decide."
"We are facing a brutal war, and we have to remember this brutality is reflected, that every day we see casualties, and that cluster munitions are used by both sides," he sought to justify and explain. "And Russia used cluster munitions to invade another country. Ukraine is using cluster munitions to defend itself."
The Associated Press first reported Thursday that the White House has decided to arm Ukraine with cluster bombs after many weeks of intense internal discussion and debate over the controversial munitions. The cluster bombs are expected to be announced as part of the next $800 million arms package.