The Biden administration told partner countries in a diplomatic memo that a US return to the Open Skies Treaty would send the “wrong message” to Russia, a sign that a revival of the treaty is unlikely.
Open Skies allows unarmed surveillance flights over participating countries and is seen as a trust-building pact. The Trump administration withdrew from the treaty last year, and Russia followed in January after attempting to salvage the agreement with the remaining European signatories.
In a State Department memo dated March 31st that was obtained by Defense News, the Biden administration said it is “frankly concerned that agreeing to rejoin a treaty that Russia continues to violate would send the wrong message to Russia and undermine our position on the broader arms control agenda.” It’s not clear how the State Department claims Russia “continues to violate” a treaty that it withdrew from.
As a candidate, President Biden slammed the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the treaty. Biden released a statement last May that said a US withdrawal from Open Skies would “exacerbate growing tensions between the West and Russia, and increase the risks of miscalculation and conflict.”
In February, after the US and Russia agreed to extend New START, the last nuclear arms control treaty between the two powers, Moscow said it was ready to discuss a return to the Open Skies. But judging by the State Department’s memo, the Biden administration does not plan to take Russia up on its offer.
President Biden continues to escalate tensions with Moscow through sanctions, support for Ukraine, and incredibly hostile rhetoric.
We need more hawkish foreign policy like a hole in the head.
What is incredibly dangerous situation when any accusation can be hurdled at anyone — without existence of a shred of proof.
Because either we are in danger — and it should be clear — or we are not.
It appears that the rhetoric, useless sanctions or diplomatic actions are purely for domestic purposes, as well as whipping allies in line.
But if there is a plan to make to China an offer they could not refuse — to ditch Russia, their hopes are delusional.
At this point the whole world knows what Russia learned a long time ago. Lavrov’s words will enter diplomatic history — US is not agreement capable. And due to US inability or unwillingness to reach an agreement that US will honor, no amount of US incentive would convince serious states to risk their security.
It is understandable that Russia is a target — much more then former Soviet Union, a multi-national entity. Russia was and is deemed anti-Semitic no matter the rule — be that former Imperial Russia or current republican one. And old European, particularly UK variety of Russophobia has remained firmly planted in modern Western plutocracy, and as such crossed the Atlantic. British Empire, the aristocracy tried in the past to strengthen the ties with Russia through marriage, or other forms of relations, but money elites generally scuttled such attempts.
Russophobia flourished for centuries. Even Hitler’s stated goal of exterminating Russians and other Slavs — makes no impression on otherwise sensitive woke culture. So the hate marches on.
There is however a major difference today. Russia is not isolated. It has a partnership with a growing giant of Asia, and is a geographic center of Eurasia, not an outsider on European periphery seeking the acceptance into the colonies enriched Europe.
And today, it is militarily a formidable opponent. Without debt and self- sufficient in many respects, it has been relieved from the pressure to provide for a wide range of consumer goods now readily available from Asian manufacturers.
But as threats are getting more brazen and irrational, one has to be concerned for the future.
Yep.the inmates are running the asylum
The standing policy is to heighten tensions. Nothing to do with Biden. It’s decided on a much higher level. Nor with Putin, SolarWinds, Novalny, Skripal, Crimea, etc..
The US is a warfare state. It’s the only thing it knows to do; and, is willing to risk any amount of human slaughter to bring Russia to heel. It’s “skill” is brinksmanship. The mid-East over the last 20 years is a dramatic illustration.