U.S. Won't Re-enter Open Skies Arms Control Pact With Russia

The relationship between the U.S. and Russia has been on rocky ground for some time. Now, as the two countries get ready for a leadership summit in a month, the U.S. announces that it will not be a part of a vital arms control treaty.

Open Skies

The Open Skies Treaty allows for surveillance flights in both countries over military compounds. Originally, President Trump had pulled the U.S. out of the treaty.

Now President Biden has announced that the U.S. would not be rejoining the pact. Currently, the U.S. has a single treaty with Russia, the New START treaty.

It had been set to expire a couple of months ago. However, Biden's administration went to work on a five-year extension plan. At that time, they also looked into rejoining the Open Skies Treaty.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman broke the news to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, letting him know that the U.S. did not intend to renew the treaty with the Russian government.

The state department said in a statement, "In concluding its review of the treaty, the United States, therefore, does not intend to seek to rejoin it, given Russia's failure to take any actions to return to compliance."

Summit Pending

President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a summit on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland, in order for the two countries to try to work together. The two countries relations have hit an all time low.

The Open Skies Treaty was an attempt to build more trust between Russia and the Western parts of the world. According to BBC, the treaty has around three dozen signatures, with each signing country authorized to do fly overs of each other's military bases. Fly over gave each participating country a chance to gather intelligence on the others forces and maneuvers.

The treaty began in 2002, and since then there have been over 1,500 flights. The treaty encouraged nations to be transparent and allowed for arms control and the monitoring of other treaties.

Former President Trump had initially withdrawn from the treaty, a move which, as a candidate, Biden had criticized calling it "short-sighted." According to NBC News, the move was also criticized by Jon Wolfsthal, the director of the Nuclear Crisis Group.

"It is both unfortunate and dangerous that the United States decided to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, and Russia's decision to do the same only makes a bad situation worse."

Jon Wolfsthal

Waiting Game

We now have to wait and see how this tactical move will play out during the summit. Russia said they would rejoin the treaty as long as the U.S. does. However, we won't rejoin unless they do better. Hopefully, the two countries will be able to come to an understanding on June 16.

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14 comments on “U.S. Won't Re-enter Open Skies Arms Control Pact With Russia”

  1. it's time to stand up and get all those jerks out of office you democrates are a bunch of clowns i hope you like what is coming to this country you done it voting biden into office you was thinking you was getting President Trump was a good thing what do you think of the clown you voted in biden is going to get us all killed he has no clue on what he is doing and obama is helping him ruin this country obama does like this country nice going dem's now you'll pay the price like all of us are going to pay

  2. If President Trump pulled away from the Open Airs Treaty, I trust that it was for good reason.
    Further, if there is reluctance for reentering the treaty for 'non-compliance' by the Russians, then why join and comply with the Russia flying over American military installations, and America not able to fly over the Russian military installations. What ever the non-compliance is taking place, it should not be tolerated.

  3. This (so called)leader has his head in hiss as..So far he has destroyed everything Trump and vets and citizens have fought for.I.dont have enough vulgar words to call and VP alas hi crooked family.They are all paid from Communist China and partners .I serverd in Korea to deafeet the Communist and now he is the biggest of all.i and we all to served to save the and the crooked Bid umb family.He and most Democrats are liars, thieves in for the money and a place on mt russemore like I said I don’t have enough words for a bunch idiots. Wait till the bombs!!!!!!

  4. Joe is going change his mind again now he's going to do what President Trump did it's funny that the Truth always comes out. Joe and his administration will only weaker or destroy America.

  5. We need to keep a close eye on this President that we have. He is a man with no knowledge of what he is doing. All he is doing, is destroying our country. Just because they will never what Trump did in less then fours years and from what read with enterruption of Democrats lies.

  6. Biden is to damn dumb to talk to our enemies him an Obama are the most racist pres its all about getting black vote an alot fall for it democrats use them

  7. Isn't it amazing how when a republican does something it's terrible, but let a democrat do the exact same thing, it's a good thing. So tired of all this BS in DC these days. If we can't do better than what we've been doing this year, we don't deserve to keep our nation ours. I suggest if you liberals keep getting your way we all better learn Chinese or Russian - pick your best bet.

  8. I will NEVER surrender my rights under the US Constitution! Why Biden is doing what he is doing is beyond rational thinking. We all know that he is corrupt and pocketing kick-backs etc. but combine that with all the horrible decisions that he, or someone else, has made it really is dangerous.

    1. Beyond rational thinking?? That is the point. Biden cannot think rationally. Biden This is his problem. He has beginnings of dementia and I think it is progressing as he gets more weird day by day. He and his handlers stole the election and stuck us with this brain dead man for a president. He's no more a real president then any of us are but he got carried into the white house on a silver platter by Dems set up fraud.

  9. The Democrats flat out lie to get people to vote for them. What I don’t understand is how they are able to stay in office after they have lied so much to their constituents it’s beyond me??? Biden and Harris are destroying this great country and allowing all these so called riots to continue is a joke. As is the coumo brothers. I’m not a woke person and I am not a Racist. I am a veteran and I believe in the United States ,what I DON’T BELIEVE IN IS LYING POLITIANS AND FAKE NEWS....or Reparation for something I had nothing to do with nor did my grandparents that’s just another thing for these people that don’t want to work to cry for give me something I don’t deserve. Wake up America before it’s too late the Democrats are destroying us.!.!.!.!.!

  10. I ' know what I ' think about this danger's move for America , My heart is now wondering how our troops feel about such a stupid blundering dumb decision .

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