Wall Street Journal: U.S. to Curb Russian Military Flights Over American Territory
Officials set to restrict observation missions that are now allowed under Open Skies treaty.
WASHINGTON—U.S. officials are preparing to announce restrictions to Russian military flights over American territory under the Treaty on Open Skies in the latest sign of strain in U.S.-Russia relations.
The treaty, part of a suite of arms-control, transparency and confidence-building agreements that proliferated in the late stages of the Cold War, permits its 34 ratified member states to conduct observation flights over each other’s territory while capturing aerial imagery of military personnel and materiel.
Treaty-related tensions intensified over two days in August, when a Russian plane operating under Open Skies flew over U.S. cities including Washington as well as Bedminster, N.J., while President Donald Trump was staying at the Trump National Golf Club in the town.
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WNU Editor: This is part of the "trust but verify" principle that is always needed when it comes to arms control agreements (something that is sorely missing in the Iranian nuclear deal .... but I digress). These additional restrictions .... by both sides .... is undermining the entire process, and I shudder on where this may eventually lead.
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