Western countries want to try to save the international treaty "Open Skies"

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Hamburg, Germany, January 17, 2020. REUTERS / Fabian Bimmer

Text by: Pierre Benazet Follow

The thirty members of NATO held an emergency meeting this Friday, May 22 in Brussels after the announcement by the United States of their withdrawal from the Open Sky treaty designed in 1992. Officially, the allies of the The organization of the North Atlantic treaty can do little more than take note of the American decision, but several European countries hope to see Washington reverse its decision.

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From our correspondent in Brussels,

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has cut short a long press release to point out that Russia effectively abrogated its obligations under the Open Skies Treaty when it imposed restrictions on overflight. its border with Georgia or the Kaliningrad Oblast.

This is not disputed by any ally. But the most significant part of this communiqué of the true state of mind within the Atlantic Alliance is the fact that the allies will continue to support, respect and strengthen disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. And NATO stresses that the American decision will only be effective in six months.

► Read also: Russia intends to remain in the Open Skies treaty, despite the American withdrawal

Eleven European countries also formally call on the United States to reverse their decision. Among the signatories of this call, France, Germany and Italy, but also the United Kingdom and Poland which are nevertheless among the countries most eager for the American security guarantee to NATO.

The withdrawal from the treaty " Open Skies " is criticized by some here as an ideological decision to Donald Trump still puts a little more evil a world order based on multilateralism.

► Also to listen: Withdrawal of the United States from the Open Skies Treaty: “more dialogue between the United States and Russia on this point”

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  • European Union
  • United States
  • Nato
  • Defense

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