U.S. announces formal intention to withdraw from 35-nation Open Skies treaty, accusing Russia of violations
WASHINGTON - The United States announced its intention to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies treaty that permits unarmed aerial surveillance flights over participating countries, saying Russia has repeatedly violated the pact’s terms.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus disease pandemic response during a meeting with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Senior administration officials said the pullout will formally take place in six months, based on the treaty’s withdrawal terms. It was the latest move by President Donald Trump’s administration to remove the United States from a major global treaty, following withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia last year. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to a small group of reporters, said the decision came after a six-month review that found multiple instances of Russian refusal to comply with the treaty. “During the course of this review it has become abundantly clear that it is no longer in America’s interests to remain a party to the Open Skies treaty,” said one of the official, saying Russia violates and implements the treaty in ways that can contribute to military threats against the United States and allies. At the same time, the officials said U.S. officials had begun talks in recent days with Russian officials about a new round of nuclear arms negotiations. “The goal is to get a robust set of teams together to begin crafting the next generation of nuclear arms control measures. The United States is committed to arms control. We are committed to European security. And we are committed to a future that puts meaningful constraints on nuclear weapons,” said one official. “It will be incumbent on Russia to be comply with future arrangements. We go into this with eyes wide open,” the official said. The Open Skies treaty, initially proposed by U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002. The 35 state parties to the Open Skies Treaty are: Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark , Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Asia Pacific stocks set to open mixed as investors await release of China's benchmark lending rateInvestors will also watch for market reaction to a STAT News report released overnight that raised concerns about the trial results for a potential coronavirus vaccine from Moderna.
Read more »
Companies are investing in sanitizing PPE, keeping business open and potentially reducing medical wasteDuring the coronavirus crisis, the CDC and FDA are permitting the sanitation and reuse of PPE, creating new opportunities for businesses and reducing medical waste.
Read more »
African debt holiday choices open new divisionsKenya won’t take up a G20-backed offer to poorer nations to suspend debt repayments. That’s because private creditors may take a dim view of such a move, irrespective of what ratings agencies say. Africa’s laggards have to accept the offer and will look worse in comparison.
Read more »
States With Open Restaurants Are (Predictably) Becoming Tourism Hot SpotsVarying policies in neighboring states are sending customers across the border for sit-down meals and drinks.
Read more »
U.S. regulators open door to possible tightening of Huawei chip curbU.S. regulators are open to making changes to close what some see as a loophole in a new rule aimed at curbing global chip sales to blacklisted Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies Ltd, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Read more »