Signed on March 24, 1992, the Open Skies Treaty – of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – allows each member state to carry out short-term, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the other territories to gather data on their military forces and activities. That is, for the purpose of perceiving, photographing the various territories from the air, whether neighbors or rivals are preparing military attacks. However, according to a department statement led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the U.S. broke away from the same six months after former President Donald Trump announced that will.
It should be noted that the argument put forward by the USA for withdrawal is that Russia prevents the country from controlling its military exercises from the air and does not allow flights over regions where Moscow is thought to have nuclear weapons that can reach Europe , namely in Kaliningrad and close to the separatist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It should be mentioned that the European allies raised objections for fear that this decision would lead to Russia also prohibiting the overflight of its territory by the Baltic bays, and this is useful for controlling movements.
US secret services suspect that Russia is using these flights to identify US structures that may be vulnerable to cyber attacks. However, on the social network Twitter, the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, wrote: “As of today, the US is no longer part of the Open Skies Treaty. Significant development. Let us not forget that US participation was a precondition for the entry into force of the Treaty. Now, the question is what Russia will do. All options are open at this stage “, wrote the diplomat. At his side, the German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, “deeply regretted the withdrawal from the USA, although he stressed that the German position” on the treaty does not change “and remains committed to an agreement considered” essential “.
In the official text of the treaty, available online in various versions – including the Portuguese one – it is possible to read that, among others, member states must “promote greater openness and transparency in their military activities” and “strengthen security by adopting security measures.” confidence “and should” contribute to the future development and strengthening of peace, stability and cooperative security in this area by creating an open sky regime for aerial observation “.
Today, pursuant to earlier notice provided, the United States withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies is now effective. America is more secure because of it, as Russia remains in non-compliance with its obligations.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) November 22, 2020
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