The US because of Russia wants to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty: what it threatens

In February 2019, the American military four-engine aircraft OC-135B, created on the basis of the military transport C-135 Stratolifter, took to the air for an observation flight over Russian territory. Writes about it with the BBC.

Фото: Depositphotos

On board the aircraft, in addition to the American military, there were six observers from Russia, who were to monitor the implementation of all the rules.

This flight was carried out within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty, which, since its entry into force in 2002, has allowed free flights of unarmed reconnaissance aircraft in the airspace of Russia, the United States and other countries that have signed the document.

The flight OC-135B in February 2019 of the year was the first observation flight of the Americans in the framework of the agreement after a long break - from November 2017 of the year.

The Open Skies Treaty is now in jeopardy. According to media reports, US President Donald Trump has already signed a document that suggests that in six months the US will withdraw from this agreement. But Washington seems to have no consensus on whether the US should withdraw from the treaty or not. Former head of the US Department of Defense James Mattis, while still the head of the Pentagon, said that despite a number of violations by Russia, the preservation of the treaty is fully consistent with US interests.

According to statistics, the United States conducts three times more observation flights over Russian territory than the Russian Federation - over US territory. From 2002 to 2016, the USA conducted 196 flights over the territory of Russia, while Russia - only 71 flights over the territory of the USA. In addition, the United States may request aerial photographs from other countries participating in the treaty taken during observation flights over Russian territory.

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Since 2002, over 500 observation flights have been completed over the territory of Russia. In recent years, the Russian Federation has carried out from four to nine such flights over the United States every year, while the United States - 14-16 flights over Russian territory.

A flight request may be made in a very short time before the expected date of flight. For example, in December 2018, the United States conducted such a flight over the east of Ukraine - shortly after the incident near the Kerch Strait, when the Russian military fired and detained the ships of the Ukrainian Navy.

The flight was carried out at the request of Ukraine. It was attended by representatives of several states at once. In some cases, such flights are a much more expeditious solution than moving a satellite. Supporters of maintaining the Open Skies Treaty argue that the agreement is designed specifically to build trust between states and does not serve intelligence purposes.

Special aircraft are used for such flights. The American OC-135B was created on the basis of the military transport Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. Canada operates a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft equipped with a high-tech sensor pod. Other Western European countries use similar systems.

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Russia and a number of Eastern European countries use An-30 aerial surveillance and aerial photography aircraft. Russia also uses the Tu-214ON.

As the main reason for withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty, the United States cites Moscow’s violation of the agreement. In the 2018 year, the United States did not conduct observation flights over Russian territory due to claims by Washington, who accused Moscow of violating the provisions of the agreement.

The US believes that Russia tried to introduce additional restrictions on observation flights over Kaliningrad. The United States also accused Russia of preventing the United States and Canada from conducting an observation flight in the area of ​​military exercises in Central Russia.

Some in Washington consider this treaty a kind of Russian intelligence permit. Arms control advocates do not ignore these arguments, but they are convinced that the Open Skies Treaty is beneficial to all participating countries. They also indicate a wider context. This is not the first international arms control agreement that the Trump administration is rejecting. Indeed, the existing arms control system, created back in the years of the Cold War, is gradually being destroyed. Its foundation is START III, which expires in the 2021 year, and there is no certainty that it will be extended.

Arms control advocates believe the powers have now begun a new arms race. Already developed modern weapons systems - including hypersonic missiles. All this suggests that the existing system of agreements can be completely destroyed.

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Artificial intelligence can also undermine the system of containment of the spread of weapons. Amid tensions and the emergence of new technologies, many insist that existing international agreements, such as the Open Skies Treaty, need to be strengthened, not abandoned.

Open sky treaty

The Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force in 2002, establishes a regime of unarmed observation flights over the territory of all 34 signatory countries to increase openness and transparency of military infrastructure, as well as prevent possible crises.

According to this document, video cameras and infrared sensors can be installed on observation aircraft, and the data obtained as a result of flights become available to all countries participating in the agreement.

The Open Skies Agreement was adopted in 1992, its goal was the development of openness and the expansion of capabilities to prevent crises in the region.

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