{"id":44451,"date":"2020-02-28T19:48:45","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T19:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/28\/dont-leave-open-skies-treaty-top-dems-say\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:42:10","slug":"dont-leave-open-skies-treaty-top-dems-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/02\/28\/dont-leave-open-skies-treaty-top-dems-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t leave Open Skies Treaty, top Democrats say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 If President Donald Trump withdraws the U.S. from the Open Skies Treaty, it would \u201charm both U.S. and allied security interests,\u201d two top Senate Democrats told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Menendez and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed told Pompeo in a letter<\/a> that the treaty will still allow Russia to fly over U.S. installations in Europe, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage, as it won\u2019t have \u201cthe oversight or influence over the technical specifications of the data gathered\u201d during the flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf this administration moves forward with a precipitous unilateral withdrawal from the Treaty the United States will be less safe and secure,\u201d the lawmakers said in the letter. They urged the administration to consult with the Senate, which has the constitutional authority to ratify treaties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. has yet to make a determination on whether to remain in the Open Skies arms control agreement, which allows mutual reconnaissance flights<\/a> over its 34 members, including the U.S. and Russia. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned<\/a> that America \u201ccan\u2019t continue\u201d to tolerate Russian \u201cnoncompliance\u201d with the treaty \u2015 the latest jab in a running quarrel<\/a> between the two nuclear powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in Brussels for a recent NATO ministerial meeting, Esper pushed on allies to take a tougher line with Moscow when it comes to the Open Skies agreement, he told reporters later. U.S. officials argue Russia has placed unfair restrictions upon Open Skies flights over Kaliningrad and Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Menendez and Reed said they share those concerns but don\u2019t think they negate the the treaty\u2019s benefits. They noted that the U.S. has taken reciprocal steps to limit Russian overflights of America\u2019s Pacific Fleet in Hawaii and its missile defense interceptor fields at Fort Greely, Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They pointed to the treaty\u2019s bipartisan support in Congress<\/a>, which appropriated $41.5 million for 2020 to begin replacing the aging Boeing OC-135B aircraft that America uses for its Open Skies flights. Reed, Menendez and other Democrats have issued similar warnings<\/a> as recently as October.<\/p>\n\n\n\t