Bill presented in Russian Parliament for withdrawal from Open Skies Treaty

Moscow: – Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented a bill for withdrawal from the Open Skies treaty, which includes 34 countries of the world. Putin had criticised that there is an imbalance created, regarding the interests of the member countries, after the US withdrawal. Last year, in May, former US President Donald Trump had announced withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty.

In 1992, the Open Skies Treaty was approved by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in its meeting held in Helsinki. As per the agreement, which included the United States and Russia, member countries are allowed to enter any other member country’s airspace to survey sensitive areas in that country. The use of surveillance aircraft and drones was permitted for this purpose.

For the last few years, the United States has been accusing that Russia had violated the treaty. The United States had complained that Russia is entering other countries’ airspaces, distorting the terms of the agreement. After that, in November last year, the United States formally withdrew from the treaty. Following the US withdrawal, Russia, too, announced the withdrawal in January this year.

The European countries expressed regret over the withdrawal of the United States and Russia. Russia even gave a fresh proposal to the European countries over this issue. But the European countries rejected the proposal. Therefore, it was being said that the Russian withdrawal was certain. The bill presented by President Putin in the Russian Parliament confirms the withdrawal.

The proposal presented by President Putin says that the balance has been disturbed with the US withdrawal, and this has created a threat to Russian security. Therefore, the bill clarifies that Russia cannot stay in the treaty and is withdrawing from the treaty. A Russian official informed that the bill would be put to vote in the Russian Parliament, and the process of Russian withdrawal will be completed by the end of this month. While the tension is increasing between Russia and the western countries, Russian withdrawal from the treaty becomes a significant development.