Open Skies Agreement: Russia does not believe in a new edition

US President Trump wants to get out of the Open Skies contract. His security advisor defends the move and accuses the Russians of flying over the White House. When flying in the USA, there are always Americans on board. Europeans fear an end to the agreement.

Washington / Berlin / Moscow (dpa) - Russia sees no chance of a successor agreement if, as announced, the United States withdraws from the east-west agreement on military observation flights in autumn.

"There are no prospects for a new agreement to replace the contract," said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Saturday on state television. The contract works perfectly and guarantees European security. The US has defended its decision against international criticism.

President Donald Trump's security adviser, Robert O'Brien, told the Bild newspaper: "The Russians are systematically violating the treaty by refusing to fly over American and allied aircraft." At the same time, Russia used overflights "to fly over civilian facilities, the White House, Camp David and a golf course on which the President is staying". Americans are always on board for such agreed flights.

Ryabkov countered that the US government had forgotten that its aircraft had not flown "over parks and beaches." Washington should now present a list of the objects photographed in Russia from the air. "Then we will see who flew over golf courses first and collected the most information." Ryabkov regretted that the US wanted to withdraw from the contract. However, the reasons put forward are "illogical and ridiculous".

The U.S. government said on Thursday that it was withdrawing from the Open Skies agreement between NATO countries and former Warsaw Pact members. Washington cites Moscow's violations of the contract as the reason. That is why the US is no longer bound by the treaty. The announcement has caused international irritation and concern. Russia denies the allegations.

The Open Skies Treaty allows the last 34 signatory states, among other things, several observation flights per year in the airspace of the contracting parties. It was closed in 1992 and came into force in 2002. Since then there have been more than 1,500 observation flights. Above all, they serve to build trust. Representatives of the observing and observed states take part in all flights.

The withdrawal from the agreement will take effect six months after an official notice of withdrawal to the depositary of the agreement. Russia does not expect to be saved - even if Moscow should meet all of the American demands, said Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov.

For the time being, his country continues to be committed to the contract. However, Moscow is currently examining "different options" to react in the event of Washington's exit. "There are likely to be further agreements that the United States wants to get rid of," said Ryabkov. In February of next year, the New Start treaty to limit strategic nuclear weapons expires. Russia has long called for negotiations with the United States on a new edition.

The announcement by the United States also worried NATO partners in Europe. The foreign ministers from Germany, France, Italy, Spain and other EU countries said in a joint statement that even if there are doubts about Russia's compliance with the contractual clauses, the US regrets the announcement. The contract is a "crucial element for building trust" and does a lot to improve transparency and security.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) said on Thursday that it would campaign for "the US government to rethink its decision". The US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, criticized Maas. "Instead of complaining about the US reaction, Heiko Maas should have increased the pressure on Russia in recent years to meet its obligations," said Grenell of the "Rheinische Post" (Saturday).

There has also been criticism of the Trump administration's exit announcement in the United States. The head of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, criticized Friday that the withdrawal from the treaty "further undermines America's credibility in the global community and makes Americans less secure". The move makes America "blind" and encourages US enemies.

The United States has left numerous international agreements under Trump, including the nuclear deal with Iran, the Paris climate deal, and the INF treaty banning land-based mid-range nuclear weapons. The latter had been signed by the United States and the Soviet Union and was the most important nuclear disarmament treaty in Europe. Trump wants future disarmament treaties to include China as well as Russia.

Open Sky Treaty, German text of the contract

State Department on Open Skies Agreement, English

Federal Ministry of Defense on the agreement

Letter from leading US Democrats in October, English

Opinion of the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell