Trump Administration Withdraws from Open Skies Treaty... Plans to Sell Related Reconnaissance Aircraft

US State Department: "Withdrawal Effective, No Longer a Member State"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The Donald Trump administration in the United States has officially withdrawn from the Open Skies Treaty.

On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. Department of State issued a statement saying that the U.S. had notified on May 22 that it would withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty six months later, adding, "The U.S. withdrawal took effect on November 22, and the U.S. is no longer a member of the (Open Skies Treaty)."

President Trump announced the withdrawal plan last May, saying, "Russia did not comply with the (Open Skies) treaty, and we will withdraw until they comply."

The Open Skies Treaty allows unarmed aerial reconnaissance among 34 member countries including the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Through this, the U.S. and European allies have played a role in checking Russia's military expansion.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is also pushing to sell three OC-135B reconnaissance aircraft that had been used under the Open Skies Treaty.

The Journal expressed concern that if the OC-135B sales proceed, it would take a considerable amount of time for the Biden administration to rejoin the Open Skies Treaty.