On November 22, 2020, the United States officially withdrew from the Open Sky Treaty. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on January 15 that Russia decided to open the domestic process of withdrawing from the Open Sky Treaty.
The statement said that in November 2020, the United States withdrew from the Open Sky Treaty, causing huge losses to the Treaty in strengthening security and mutual trust.
The statement also said that Russia has put forward specific proposals, hoping to maintain the validity of the treaty under new conditions, and Russia regrets that the United States has failed to support the Russian proposal.
The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that Russia cannot accept the request of the United States to its European allies to share the data observed in Russian airspace. Russia said that after the withdrawal procedure is completed, Russia will inform the parties to the treaty.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: It is unacceptable for the United States to obtain Russian data through allies.
According to Tass, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zaharova’s written comments, Russia’s approach to the United States’ access to Russian data through allies is unacceptable.
In this context, Russian leaders have made a decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: There is still a risk of deterioration in Russian-US relations
At the press conference on the same day, Zaharova said that the risk of worsening Russia’s relationship with the United States still exists. Zaharova said that the United States regards Russia as an enemy, imposes sanctions on Russia, undermines the existing arms control system, threatens and intimidates, and blocks all positive developments on both sides.
The unfriendly and destructive behavior of the United States has deepened the crisis of relations between the two countries.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zaharova: The unfriendly and destructive actions of the United States, including the imposition of various anti-Russian sanctions, are intended to deepen the crisis of bilateral relations and actually undermine the entire existing arms control system to intimidate and threaten Russia.
The Open Skies Treaty is an important confidence-building measure in the post-Cold War.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002. States parties to the Treaty may conduct unarmed aerial reconnaissance of each other’s territory as required.
The treaty is an important confidence-building measure after the end of the cold war, which helps to enhance transparency and reduce the risk of conflict. The United States, Russia and most NATO countries have signed this treaty.
The U.S. State Department informed other parties to the treaty of the withdrawal decision on May 22 this year, saying that unless Russia can resume the implementation of the treaty, the United States will officially withdraw the treaty in six months.
In this regard, Russia said that the accusations made by the United States were groundless. On November 22, 2020, the United States announced its official withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty.
Just in December 2020, at the 2020 annual press conference, Putin attacked the successive withdrawal of the United States from the ABM Treaty, the INF Treaty and the Open Sky Treaty.
Russian President Putin: What should we do if the United States withdraws from the Open Skies Treaty? I don’t want to ask this question.
But what should we do? Let’s just forget it? As a NATO country, you fly in Russian airspace and then tell your American partners everything, while we are deprived of the same opportunity in American airspace. You are all smart people. Why do you think of us as fools?
Expert interpretation: What is the purpose of Russia’s move?
Why did Russia choose to open the domestic process of withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty at this time, and what impact will Russia’s move have on the international security situation?
Special Commentator Song Xiaojun: It is Russia’s withdrawal from the Open Sky Treaty this time. First of all, it emphasizes that the United States withdrew in November last year. After Russia’s repeated work, European countries did not agree.
Well, more than two months have passed since October last year, and Russia believes that since you don’t agree, I will start to start.
Because this matter is for Russia to be voted by the Duma, it is only not yet the Duma voting process to start, but we know that January 20 is only a few days away, that is, five days away. At this time, if Biden comes up, I’m afraid there will still be a chance.
Therefore, I think Russia should do this move ahead of time.
Russia may put pressure on the new U.S. government ahead of schedule.
Special commentator Song Xiaojun: Another one I think Russia will move out of another more critical treaty through this treaty, that is, the new strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty that Russia has always hoped to be continued.
Well, after Biden came up, it only took 16 days to come up on January 20th, which expired on February 5.
So I think Russia may hope to pack two things together through this month.
Because both are linked to the Biden administration’s improved relations in Europe.
In addition, you also need to improve your relationship with Russia, that is, to renew the new Treaty on Strategic Nuclear Reductions, otherwise Russia will not make concessions on the Treaty on Open Skies.
Russia’s withdrawal has a great impact on some NATO allies.
Special Commentator Song Xiaojun: Russia’s withdrawal from the Open Sky Treaty is actually mainly affected by NATO in these countries in Europe, including some countries in Eastern Europe, which are very worried.
Well, of course, if the United States does not extend the new Treaty on Strategic Nuclear Reduction, then Russia will definitely withdraw, and Russia will certainly be threatened to a certain extent.
But Russia should say that the ground is stronger, so I think the main European allies of NATO are very nervous, so whether they will put pressure on the Biden administration reverse, this can be seen again.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Russia has done its best to retain the Open Skies Treaty.
Moscow, January 15 Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zaharova said on the 15th that when the United States abandoned the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Open Sky Treaty and announced its withdrawal from the Treaty, the trend of breaching the Treaty was irreversible.
Even so, Russia has made every effort to retain the treaty.
According to a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day, Zaharova said that when the United States announced its withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty
Russia asked other parties to the Treaty not to transmit data on their observation flights to Russia to the United States, and also asked these countries to accept Russian guidelines for their observation of their territory and local U.S. military facilities. Fly.
Zaharova said that after the withdrawal of the United States, although other Western countries have expressed their willingness to continue to implement the treaty, it is more important for these countries to follow the United States politically.
Therefore, these countries ignored Russia’s request not to transfer data on Russian aerial observation flights to the United States. In view of this, Russia made a decision to open the domestic procedures for withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty.
According to the statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th, Russia decided to open the domestic procedure for withdrawing from the Open Sky Treaty.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002. Participating States to the Treaty may conduct unarmed aerial reconnaissance of each other’s territory as required.
The treaty is an important confidence-building measure after the end of the cold war, which helps to enhance transparency and reduce the risk of conflict. The United States, Russia and most NATO countries have signed this treaty.
In May 2020, U.S. State Department informed other parties to the Treaty of its withdrawal when U.S. President Trump accused Russia of violating the Open Skies Treaty.
Russia said that the accusations of the United States were groundless. In November of the same year, the United States announced its official withdrawal from the treaty.
