The Danger That Leaving The Open Skies Treaty Brings

In May of 2020, Trump aka, CB45, and his cronies decided to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. Six months later, the ex-president withdrew the United States from the pact. The reason, is Russia’s continued violation of the agreement.

Ending Open Skies Another Bad Idea From the Present Administration

Open Skies Intent

The treaty allowed 34 NATO members to conduct flights over other member countries. The purpose was to track military activity and control nuclear arms.

The Consequences For Our Allies

Ending open skies does little to hurt the United States. Through the use of satellites, the U.S. keeps tabs on Russia. But our allies do not have the same capabilities. The impact on our allies is 2-fold. First, they can no longer observe military movements in Russia. Second, Russia can do whatever it wants without fear of discovery.

Once again the ex-president has made moves that hurt those that support us and not those that look to destroy us.

Russia’s Move

1. Russia leaves the treaty because of the U.S.
2. This ends the availability of member nations to monitor Russia.
3. Russia loses nothing. No doubt, it too has satellite coverage of our allies.

The Open Skies Timeline

The following is a timeline of the demise of Open Skies. Unless President-elect Biden can change things. But consider this, will it matter if Russia leaves the agreement? Or worse Russia demands terms that would weaken the agreement in its favor?

What Is “Open Skies“?

Excerpt: The Open Skies Treaty permits its 34 signatory nations to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over the territory of other member-states for the purposes of monitoring military activity and controlling nuclear arms. The U.S. has relied upon two Boeing OC-135B aircraft flown by the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron out of Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., to carry out Open Skies missions since 1993.

Source: The Air Force cancels its Open Skies recapitalization program after US pulls out from treaty By Valerie Insinna  July 16

Trump administration prepares to leave Open Skies Treaty

By: Aaron Mehta and Joe Gould   May 21 Updated May 21, 2020, at 7:16 p.m. EST.

Excerpt 1: The Trump administration has made a final decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, sources confirmed to Defense News on Thursday. The news was confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump midday, followed by a formal announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the administration will make a formal notification on Friday, kicking off a six-month clock before a formal exit occurs.

“We may, however, reconsider our withdrawal should Russia return to full compliance with the Treaty,” Pompeo said in a statement.

Excerpt 2: “If you’re Russia, you can stay in and take the moral high ground, say, ‘We still honor international treaties, even if America doesn’t,’ or you can say the treaty is diminished beyond usefulness and you pull out. I don’t know which they’ll do, but neither is good for NATO,” the source said.

Excerpt 3: The source added that while it is true the U.S. gets its best intelligence from its satellites as opposed to OC-135 flights, focusing entirely on that is “selfish” because “a lot of NATO allies rely on Open Skies for visibility into what goes on in Russia.”

July 2 Months Later

The Air Force cancels its Open Skies recapitalization program after US pulls out from treaty

By: Valerie Insinna   July 16

Excerpt 1: The U.S. Air Force on July 14 officially rescinded its solicitation to overhaul the OC-135 Open Skies aircraft, cancelling the program two months after President Donald Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Open Skies treaty.

 Excerpt 2: “On 22 May 2020, the United States provided formal notice of its intent to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies. As a result, this announcement is hereby cancelled,” the Air Force wrote in a statement on beta.sam.gov.

4 Months Later. The 6 months period has passes

Trump makes good on his promise to withdraw from the treaty.

Trump Exits Open Skies Treaty, Moves to Discard Observation Planes

Nov. 24, 2020, 1:01 PM EST By Steve Benen

Without specialized aircraft and equipment, Biden administration would have difficult time re-entering post-Cold War pact.

The demise of the Open Skies Treaty part of an unfortunate pattern Nov. 24, 2020, 1:01 PM EST

By Steve Benen

As he abandons another international agreement, we’re reminded that Trump isn’t a builder; he’s a world-class demolitions expert.

Trump administration to reportedly dispose of Open Skies treaty planes

By Mark Moore Nov 24 2020/ 10:12 AM Updated

Excerpt 1: The planes have been designated as “excess defense articles,” meaning they can be given or sold at steep discounts to allies, the report said, citing a senior US official.

Excerpt 2: “We’ve started liquidating the equipment,” the official said. “Other countries can come purchase or just take the airframes. They are really old and cost-prohibitive for us to maintain. We don’t have a use for them anymore.”

Excerpt 3: Older cameras used on the aircraft are expected to be given to allies, and new digital cameras the Pentagon planned to install on the planes will be sent to other Air Force units.

But Wait. This Conflicts With The Previous Article

Trump left the Open Skies Treaty, but don’t write it off yet

 By: Joe Gould , Valerie Insinna , and Aaron Mehta   November 25

Excerpt 1: Because it could take months for the Air Force to move through the legal and bureaucratic processes necessary to decommission the Boeing OC-135B planes flown from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., to execute the treaty mission, it appears the Biden administration would have ample time to reverse course. The treaty permits 30-plus nations to conduct unarmed, observation flights over each other’s territory.

Excerpt 2: “The final decision on disposition of Open Skies Treaty resources has not yet been made,” an Air Force official told Defense News on Tuesday. “The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt AFB is still flying local OC-135 missions at a greatly reduced rate in order to maintain aircrew qualifications, while the Air Force continues to assess options for realigning, repurposing, or retiring the two 1960s-era OC-135B aircraft, as well as other associated equipment in accordance with DoD guidance.”