"Leave the group" again! The United States announces its formal withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty

　　China News Service, November 23. According to Agence France-Presse, on the 22nd local time, the US government announced that it would officially withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty."

　　According to reports, on the same day, the U.S. State Department stated in a statement that “the withdrawal of the United States will take effect on November 22 and the United States is no longer a signatory to the Open Skies Treaty.”

Data map: US Air Force formation.

[Why did the United States withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty?

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　　The Open Sky Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002.

Treaty countries can conduct unarmed aerial reconnaissance on each other's territory as required.

The treaty is an important confidence-building measure after the end of the Cold War, helping to increase transparency and reduce the risk of conflict.

The United States, Russia and most NATO countries signed this treaty.

　　On May 21, 2020, US Secretary of State Pompeo accused Russia of violating the "Open Skies Treaty" in a statement, stating that the United States will submit a notice of withdrawal decision to all signatories and formally withdraw from the treaty six months later , Unless Russia can re-fulfil this treaty.

　　The Russian side stated in this regard that the US's accusations were groundless and that the US continued to fulfill the conditions set forth in the "Open Skies Treaty" "absolutely unacceptable."

Over the past few months, the Russian side has repeatedly called for an equal dialogue on the Open Skies Treaty, but the US has never responded positively.

　　On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that the United States withdrew from the "ABM Treaty" and then withdrew from the "Intermediate-Range-Range Treaty" and then initiated the procedures for withdrawing from the "Open Sky Treaty". Security in Europe.

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　　On January 23, 2017, the US government withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

　　Less than half a year later, the United States announced that it would withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

　　In October 2017, the United States announced its withdrawal from UNESCO.

　　In May 2018, the United States announced that it would withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and would restart sanctions against Iran.

　　On February 1, 2019, the United States announced that it would suspend the implementation of the Intermediate-Range-Range Treaty from the 2nd.

　　On May 21, 2020, the United States announced that it would officially withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty in six months.