U.S President Joe Biden has arrived in the UK ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania later this week, after several allies questioned his call to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.
The United Kingdom and Canada are among those who have expressed worry about selling the bombs, which are universally prohibited due to the threat they pose to civilians.
According to the US, they are required since Ukraine’s military stocks are depleting.
Mr. Biden will meet with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today, Monday.
They are expected to discuss various issues, including the war in Ukraine.
Mr Sunak said on Saturday that the UK was one of 123 countries signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty which bans the production or use of the weapons.
Other US allies have gone further, however. Nato partner nation New Zealand said on Sunday the munitions could cause “huge damage to innocent people”.
Cluster bombs typically release lots of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Unexploded bomblets can linger on the ground for years before they detonate.
The US says it has received written reassurances from Kyiv that Ukrainian troops will not use the weapons in Russia or in urban areas.
While in the UK, Mr Biden will also meet King Charles for the first time since the King was crowned.
