Open Skies Treaty For
The open skies consultative commission oscc comprised of representatives of all states parties is responsible for the implementation of the open skies treaty.
Open skies treaty for. The open skies treaty was meant to contribute to international security but it has been twisted and perverted in its implementation and now serves russian purposes inimical to that security. Treaty on open skies. The open skies treaty has been in effect since 2002. While initially imagined as a key part of multiple arms control deals for over a decade many in washington believe russia is in regular non compliance with ost protocols.
Specifically they ve blamed moscow for preventing surveillance flights from happening over russia. The treaty on open skies was signed in march 1992 in helsinki by 23 member nations of the organization for security and cooperation in europe osce. The treaty established a regime of unarmed observation flights over the territories of state parties. The oscc considers matters of treaty compliance decides on treaty membership distributes active quotas and deals with any questions that may arise during the implementation of the treaty.
It establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. The trump administration formally withdrew from the 34 nation open skies treaty on november 22 after serving the obligatory six months notice to do so in may this year. The idea of allowing other countries surveillance aircraft to conduct flyovers was first proposed by president dwight eisenhower. Organization for security and co operation in europe.
On may 22 2020 the united states exercised its right pursuant to paragraph 2 of article xv of the treaty on open skies by providing notice to the treaty depositaries and to all states parties of its decision to withdraw from the treaty effective six months from the notification date. We understand that many of our allies and partners in europe still find value in the treaty and we are grateful for the thoughtful feedback they have offered us during the course of our review of these. It specifies inter alia quotas for observation flights.