Trump Withdraws from Air Freedom Treaty Signed with Russia (Comprehensive)

Second After Withdrawal from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)
US Allies in Europe on High Alert
Conflict with Russia Also Expands

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 21st (local time) that he would withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. Following last year's withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia, the United States has once again exited a military-related international treaty concerning arms control, prompting not only Russia but also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to take measures.

According to AFP on the 21st (local time), President Trump told reporters, "We will withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty." Earlier, the Associated Press also reported that the U.S. government notified member countries on the same day that it wishes to withdraw from the treaty because Russia is violating it.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also stated in a press release that "the United States will submit a notification of its decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty to the treaty depositaries and all other parties tomorrow."

Secretary Pompeo said that after six months from tomorrow, the United States will no longer be a party to the treaty, but "if Russia returns to full compliance with the treaty, we may reconsider our withdrawal."

The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 by the United States, Russia, and European countries and came into effect in 2002. Thirty-four countries, including the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, are members. The core of this treaty allows mutual unarmed aerial reconnaissance among member countries to ensure international monitoring and transparency regarding the military capabilities and activities of the signatories. More than 1,500 flights have been conducted under this treaty to date.

AP reported that the U.S. withdrawal from this treaty is expected to strain relations with Russia and anger European allies.

Europe appears clearly unsettled by the U.S. move. NATO announced an emergency meeting for member countries on the same day. Germany has demanded that the U.S. reconsider this action.

Russia immediately condemned the U.S. announcement of withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty. According to RIA Novosti, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko stated, "We reject any attempt to justify this fundamental treaty withdrawal on technical grounds."

He pointed out, "If the withdrawal from the treaty occurs, no technical issue can be resolved, and the institution itself, which has contributed to maintaining peace and security in Europe for over 20 years and has been part of a military security system where all elements are interconnected, will cease to exist."

This notification is another example of the Trump administration exiting international treaties following last year's withdrawal from the INF Treaty with Russia, increasing the possibility of a renewed arms race between the two countries. After the INF treaty's termination, there have been suggestions that the U.S. might deploy short-range missiles in the Northeast Asia region to counter Russia and China. South Korea and Japan have been mentioned as potential sites. This could certainly heighten tensions in the Northeast Asian security environment.

President Trump recently mentioned the establishment of the Space Force and the development of missiles several times faster than Russia's and China's hypersonic missiles, further provoking the two countries.

The U.S. has also shown a negative stance toward another arms control agreement with Russia, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Signed during the Barack Obama administration, this treaty limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads for both the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 each and is set to expire in 2021.

Experts and analysts told CNN that the U.S. is unlikely to extend this last remaining nuclear arms agreement with Russia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.