Open Skies Treaty Issue

The treaty on open skies entered into force on january 1 2002 and currently has 35 party states.

Open skies treaty issue. It establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Specifically they ve blamed moscow for preventing surveillance flights from happening over russia. 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. It now has 33 members with russia ratifying.

Effective january 1 2002 34 european states the us and russia adopted the open skies treaty ost other nations welcomed to join at the time. The withdrawal will occur in six months on november 22 2020. Last may pompeo said the trump regime will submit formal notice of its decision to withdraw from the ost to other treaty signatories the move effective six months from may 22. Background and issues updated may 21 2020 according to secretary of state michael pompeo the united states will give notice of its intent to withdraw from the treaty on open skies on may 22 2020.

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 white house s decision to withdraw from the open skies treaty. Insinuating that the peninsula is a part of the russian federation rather than ukraine for treaty purposes. The treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants regardless of size a direct role in gathering information about military forces and.

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.