A treaty that has been standing for 28 years as the most wide-ranging international efforts promoting openness and transparency of military forces and activities is threatened by US withdrawal.
The Guardian has published a report claiming to have obtained information from sources "familiar with administration planning" that the Trump administration is determined to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty (OST). According to the report, the secretary of defence, Mark Esper, and secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, have agreed to proceed with a US exit from the treaty. The report suggests that a statement of intent is expected soon, with a formal notification of withdrawal issued a few months later, possibly at the end of the fiscal year in September. The US would cease to be a party to the treaty six months after that, so if a new president were elected in November, the decision could be reversed before taking effect.
Earlier in October 2019, President Donald Trump reportedly signed a memorandum regarding his intention to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. The following month, U.S. officials briefed NATO on U.S. concerns and warned that the United States would probably leave the treaty according to the National Interest.
