NATO is pressuring Russia to comply with the Open Skies Treaty



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The head of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, indicated that the decision of EE. USA If the agreement is abandoned, it will not enter into force for another six months, so Moscow has time to change course.

“All NATO allies fully comply with all provisions of the treaty,” said Stoltenberg.

“Russia has for many years imposed flight restrictions, incompatibilities with the agreement, including flight restrictions over Kaliningrad and Russian territory near the Sarkatvel border.” “The United States has declared that Russia is not complying with the agreement and has announced its intention to withdraw within six months, as stipulated in the provisions of the agreement,” Stoltenberg said.

“However, the United States said it could reconsider the decision if Russia fully respects its commitments.” “NATO allies are working with Russia to ensure that Russia assumes its responsibilities as soon as possible,” added Stoltenberg.

The Open Skies Treaty was concluded immediately after the Cold War so that signatories could avoid unpleasant surprises or unfounded suspicions by the armies of other countries.

The agreement was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002, allowing 35 signatories, including the United States and Russia, to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over the territories of other countries.

Moscow and Washington often accuse each other of violating the terms of the treaty, and last year, United States President Donald Trump said the United States could withdraw from the treaty entirely.

Now, it seems, this threat may come true, despite the concerns of some of Washington’s allies in Europe, who see the treaty as an essential architectural element of their security on the continent.

Trump gun control negotiator Marshall Billingslea wrote on Twitter that there was a “very positive discussion” at the NATO meeting, demonstrating “transatlantic unity” on nuclear disarmament.



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