Is NATO De-Clustering on Cluster Bombs?

July 17, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—On July 9, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she is against the supplying of cluster bombs to Ukraine. “Italy adheres to the International Convention Prohibiting the Production, Transfer and Stockpiling of Cluster Munitions. Within the framework of the expressed values of the Atlantic Alliance, Italy calls for the universal application of the principles of the Convention,” Meloni said, adding that the Italian government reiterates its total condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Significantly, Med-Or Foundation head and former Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti also came out on the issue. That institution is representative of the Italian military-industrial complex, as it is owned by Leonardo-Finmeccanica defense producer. Members of its international board are from the global liberal establishment, such as Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal, John Negroponte, Sigmar Gabriel or Sir Alex Younger (former Chief of MI6).

“Cluster bombs? If I were part of the Ukrainian leadership, I would think about it before using them because the dramatic problem is what is left on the ground,” Minniti said to La7 national private channel. “Reclamation in the reconstruction phase of Ukraine would become very difficult, it would take up to 20 years to do it. And the reconstruction is really up to the Ukrainian leadership, so having fewer structural impediments would be an advantage for them as well.”