Stockpiling of US cluster bombs in the UK

	Cluster munitions
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	Stockpiling of US cluster bombs in the UK
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It is thought that there are substantial stocks of cluster bombs at US administered airbases in the UK. The US has so far declined any support for the new treaty.

However it would appear to be the view of the British Government that the UK will require the US to remove cluster munitions from British soil within eight years of the UK's signing of the treaty.

Article 1 of the text of the Convention adopted in Dublin on 30 May prohibits future States Parties from using, developing, producing, otherwise acquiring, stockpiling, retaining or transferring to anyone, whether directly or indirectly, cluster munitions.

The extent to which the UK and US can be involved in joint operations in which the US (if it remains outside of the treaty) uses cluster munitions is less clear.

On the one hand Article 21 specifically states that States Parties may engage in military cooperation and operations with States not party to this Convention.

However we also have an obligation under the treaty to discourage States not party to this Convention from using cluster munitions and cannot assist in their use. This probably makes the planning of joint operations in which cluster munitions could be used not feasible in practice.

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