Russia Slams Biden Regime's Refusal to Rejoin Open Skies Treaty

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Earlier I explained that Trump and hardliners around him were deal breakers, not observers.

They unilaterally abandoned the landmark 1987 INF Treaty with Russia, the 2016 Security Council adopted JCPOA, and 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, as well as UNESCO and UN Human Rights Council. 

He threatened to leave the World Trade Organization and New START nuclear arms agreement with Russia — falsely calling it a "bad deal" he knew nothing about other than misinformation told him by hardline regime officials.

He abandoned the 1992 Open Skies Treaty (effective 2002), falsely saying "Russia didn't adhere to the treaty (sic), so until they adhere we will pull out…"

At the same time, his regime's assistant war secretary Jonathan Hoffman falsely accused Moscow of "flagrantly and continuously violat(ing) its obligations under Open Skies (sic)," adding:

Russia "contribute(s) to…threat(en) the US and our allies and partners (sic)."

All of the above are bald-faced Big Lies, part of longstanding US war on nonbelligerent Russia by other means — continuing relentlessly by Biden regime hardliners.

Adherence to Open Skies (OST) — especially among nuclear powers — contributes to European and world security.

It permits unarmed aerial surveillance over the entire territory of signatory countries.

It's a confidence-building measure to promote openness, letting treaty members get information on military forces and activities for national security reasons.

The US FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) suspended funding related to OST cooperation with Russia, the measure stating:

"None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act…may be obligated or expended to carry out any activities to modify any United States aircraft for purposes of implementing the Open Skies Treaty." 

In sharp contrast to US contempt for the rule of law at home and abroad, Russia respects the rights of its people and fully complies with its international obligations.

Days earlier, the Biden regime informed Moscow that it won't return to the OST.

In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov slammed the US for not contributing to European security.

At the same time, he denounced phony Trump and Biden regime claims that Russia breached the treaty, adding:

"The decision was predictable." 

"This certainly does not make us happy."

"We are disappointed as the US missed another chance to make a positive contribution to the security in Europe on a reasonable basis." 

"Instead of that, they continue to slur."

"They keep bringing groundless accusations against us to which we have reacted many times."

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while the OST "still exists," its "viability" is lost without participation by the US and Russia.

After Trump unilaterally pulled out of the OST last November, Moscow began procedures to follow suit.

Days earlier on May 19, Russia's lower house State Duma unanimously passed legislation to pull out of the OST because of Washington's withdrawal.

Russia's upper house Federation Council will likely follow suit in early June.

According to State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky:

"The US statements about the lack of intention to rejoin the (OST) confirm that Russia's course to denounce it is the right one." 

"We cannot continue this one-way street case when our European partners cannot provide legal guarantees that they will not share data about flights over Russian territories to the US side."

"Washington bears full blame for the practical destruction of the treaty. All our measures are dictated by the need to respond."

The US move is further evidence that it can never be trusted, that good faith diplomacy with its ruling regimes is a waste of time — that it's a mortal enemy of peace, cooperative relations with other nations, and the rule of law.

Because of Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the OST, Russia has no choice but to follow suit, most likely in June.

A Final Comment

On Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said the following about Washington's refusal to rejoin the OST.

The Biden regime unjustifiably justified its "destructive decision by making far-fetched and politicized accusations against Russia that have no basis in reality."

Once again, "the US demonstrated its disdain not only for European security but also for the interests of its own allies that asked it to reconsider" Trump's unilateral pullout.

The Biden regime made a "crude political mistake."

Under both right wings of its war party, the US never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to shift from an agenda of belligerence to peacemaking.

"The US is fully responsible for the collapse of" Open Skies and absence of world peace because of its endless wars on humanity at home and abroad.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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