Russia Quits The Open Skies Treaty Regarding Its National Security Which Threatened By The US

Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons/The Presidential Press and Information Office/www.kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law, finalizing Russia's withdrawal from the 'Open Skies Treaty' (OST), the Kremlin said on Monday 7 June.

The bill was initiated by President Putin, after the United States announced its intention to withdraw from the treaty, and was approved by both chambers of Russia's parliament, the State Duma and the Federation Council, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"The United States withdrew from the treaty under trumped-up pretexts, which significantly violated the balance of the interests of the parties to the treaty and reached a conclusion. As such, compliance with the treaty and its importance in building trust and transparency seriously undermines and damages the national security of the Federation. Russia is under threat", the Kremlin said in a statement.

"In light of these circumstances, the decision has been made to withdraw the Russian Federation from the Treaty", the statement continued.

The US launched the process of withdrawing from the OST last November under the administration of former President Donald Trump, prompting a symmetrical response from Russia.

After President Joe Biden was elected as the US President, Moscow said it was ready to return to the agreement, if Washington also reaffirmed its commitments.

According to the procedure, President Vladimir Putin must obtain approval from the Russian parliament and sign the withdrawal bill, sealing Russia's withdrawal from the agreement.

To note, the Open Skies Treaty entered into force on January 1, 2002. The treaty was designed to promote mutual understanding and transparency in military development and to suggest the possibility of unarmed aerial reconnaissance flights over all participating territories.