Biden affirms strong US-UK ties despite cluster bomb dispute.

President Biden’s Visit to the UK

LONDON—President Joe Biden had a productive day in London, meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and enjoying tea with King Charles at Windsor Castle.

During his meeting with Mr. Sunak, President Biden emphasized the strong bond between the United States and the United Kingdom, despite recent controversies surrounding the shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about. I think we’re doing well. We’re moving along in a way that’s positive. But our relationship is rock solid,” Mr. Biden said.

The two leaders had a fruitful discussion at 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister. This marked their sixth meeting in just six months, highlighting the importance of their ongoing dialogue.

Following his meeting with the king, President Biden will be heading to Vilnius, Lithuania, to attend the high-stakes North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit on July 11 and 12.

However, President Biden’s trip to Europe this week has been overshadowed by the recent decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. These weapons are banned by over 100 countries, including U.S. allies France, Germany, and the UK.

Controversial Decision

In 2008, these countries agreed in Oslo, Norway, to outlaw “all use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions.” Unfortunately, the United States and Russia are not parties to this agreement.

“It took me a while to be convinced to do it,” Mr. Biden told CNN in an interview on July 9 regarding his decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Human rights groups have expressed concern over this decision, with Amnesty International stating that cluster munitions pose “a grave threat to civilian lives, even long after the conflict has ended.”

Despite the criticism, the White House remains confident that supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine will not jeopardize the overall mission for peace and stability in the region.