“Confidence will become less”: Russia is ready for the possible withdrawal of the United States from the Open Skies Treaty

The Russian side has already prepared a response in the event of a possible withdrawal of the United States from the Open Skies Treaty (DON). Such a statement in an interview with RIA Novosti was made by the Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Ermakov.

He noted that the information that appeared about Washington’s likely withdrawal from the agreement was not a surprise to Moscow. At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that any US decision to withdraw from the agreements binding on them would strike at international security.

“Unfortunately, our American colleagues have been doing this purposefully since the end of the 90s of the last century,” stated Yermakov.

Answering a question about Moscow’s alleged retaliatory measures in the event of Washington leaving the Don, the diplomat said that “everything is ready” in this area, but did not specify the details.

The Multilateral Open Skies Treaty entered into force in 2002. This agreement, to which 34 states are parties, allows free flights of unarmed reconnaissance aircraft in the airspace of the signatory countries. It is designed to strengthen confidence between states by improving the system of control over the activities of the military.

In October, a number of American media reported that Donald Trump intends to withdraw the United States from the Open Skies Treaty. Earlier this month, CNN reported on the preparation of relevant plans, citing an informed source. Later, similar information was published by The Wall Street Journal, also citing its own sources.

Then a number of American congressmen called on the White House not to leave the Don. In their opinion, such a move by the United States is contrary to the national security of the country and will be a “gift” to the Russian leadership.

Shortly afterwards, the Pentagon replied that the US Air Force was continuing its aircraft modernization program for use under the Open Skies Treaty.

“The program inside the Air Force continues. There are no changes in this plan, ”Ellen Lord, Pentagon Deputy Procurement and Logistics Director, said in response to a question about the status of military equipment modernization for Don against the backdrop of reports of a possible withdrawal of the United States from the agreement.

Commenting on these publications, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States did not send any official statements to the Russian side regarding withdrawal from the Don. According to official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, US parliamentarians “periodically make such statements,” but the Russian Foreign Ministry does not comment on such information.

Later, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was asked about the possible plans of the United States to leave the Open Skies Treaty. In response, he made it clear that he had heard about this only from publications in a number of media. At the same time, the minister called Washington’s possible withdrawal from the treaty a “sad” event.

“We will collect information in a different way”

In an interview with RT, an expert of the Association of Military Political Scientists, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology of the Russian University of Economics named after G.V. Plekhanov Andrey Koshkin drew attention to the trend, which can be seen in the actions of the American leadership.

“We need to see a trend of a destructive nature when the current administration of President Donald Trump acts as a destroyer of international treaties, including the INF Treaty; non-renewal of START-3 and at present - withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, ”said the expert, noting that there are no official notifications regarding DON.

In turn, the director of the Institute for Contemporary State Development Dmitry Solonnikov suggested that the US is likely to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. The expert pointed out that the United States is consistently leaving a number of international agreements that limit US actions regarding the uncontrolled development of both its weapons and security systems.

“This is the policy of the current White House administration. There is no reason to suppose that due to something, it will be discontinued now, ”RT Solonnikov said.

At the same time, he is of the opinion that catastrophic consequences in the event of the US withdrawing from the Don will not happen and the parties to the treaty will adapt to new realities.

“Yes, flights will cease, control over each other will cease, and in this part, respectively, there will be less confidence. Yes, we will continue to live in a situation where we will monitor each other with the help of satellites, radio interception, the activities of our scouts and their spies. We will collect information in a different way. The world lived in this stage, will live again, ”the expert added.

The analyst noted that the formation of agreements like the Open Skies Treaty improves relations between countries. Solonnikov is of the opinion that US policy can prevent this.

“These agreements were aimed at creating a new culture in the world, new principles of relations between states: we are open to each other, we have nothing to hide. The USA is consistently dismantling this world, ”the expert concluded.