The United States said it would withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty" NATO allies expressed concern

　　China News Service, May 23, according to Reuters, on the 22nd local time, NATO European member states said they were uneasy about the US plan to withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty." According to Russian Satellite Network reports, the ten European countries issued a joint statement saying they regretted Washington ’s withdrawal from the treaty.

Data graph: US President Trump. China News Agency reporter Chen Meng Tongshe

　　According to reports, the "Open Sky Treaty" was signed by countries such as the United States, Russia, and most NATO member states. It entered into force in 2002 and aims to increase military transparency and reduce the risk of conflict. The signatory countries may carry out unarmed aerial reconnaissance on each other ’s territory in accordance with the provisions of the treaty.

　　However, the US State Department said on May 21 local time that the United States will formally withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty" after six months, and also said that "if Russia fully abides by this treaty," the US may reconsider this decision.

　　In this regard, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and Sweden issued a joint statement on the 22nd, saying that they regret "Washington's statement."

　　The statement said: "The Open Space Treaty has been a key factor in strengthening confidence in ensuring transparency and security in the European Atlantic region over the past few decades." The above-mentioned countries stressed in their statement that they will continue to abide by the treaty.

　　On the other hand, Russia refuted the accusations of the United States. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov said on the 22nd that the United States ’alleged Russian non-compliance with the treaty was deliberately fabricated fake information. He said that Russia believes that this treaty is important and will continue to implement and "strive to maintain" the treaty.

　　In addition, Reuters also said that the United States threatened to withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty", deepening the outside world's doubts about whether Washington will extend the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty." According to reports, after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the "Central Treaty" in 2019, the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty" is currently the only major arms control treaty between Russia and the United States. The treaty will expire in February 2021, and Russia and the United States have not yet reached agreement on whether to renew the contract.