US tells Russia it will not rejoin key arms control deal

• Alaina
• . May 29, 2021
• . Update: May 29, 2021 7:47 pm
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Recently, the US official told Russia that they will not rejoin them in an arms control deal that permits unarmed aerial flights over dozens of participating countries. It is due to the failure to return to compliance with the Open Skies Treaty which has been undermined by Russia’s violations. However, Russia denies the allegations and is expected to withdraw from the treaty this year. This accord allows all the short-notice flights to monitor their military activity. This treaty came into force in 2002 and now over 30 nations have participated in the treaty. 

In its concluding review, it was clear that the United States does not intend to seek to rejoin it, given Russia’s failure to take any actions to return to compliance. Under the Presidentship of Donald Trump, Washington has withdrawn from the treaty. And as a presidential candidate, Joe Biden called this move short-sighted. The announcement was made on Thursday, it cleared that only one major arms control treaty between the two nuclear powers remains in place. It sets limits on deployments of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems. Coming at an opportune time, when already Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are preparing for a summit in Geneva, Switzerland. 

The Open Skies Treaty was intended to build trust between Russia and the West by allowing the accord’s more than three dozen signatories to conduct reconnaissance flights over each other’s territories to collect information about military forces and activities. More than 1,500 flights have been conducted under the treaty since it took effect in 2002, aimed at fostering transparency and allowing for the monitoring of arms control and other agreements.

Explaining the Open Skies Treaty was intended to build trust between Russia and the US. Under the treaty they allowed more than three dozen signatories to conduct reconnaissance flights over each other’s territories to collect information about military forces and activities. To make this operation inclusive, more than 1,500 flights have been conducted under the treaty and is aimed at fostering transparency and allowing for the monitoring of arms control and other agreements.