The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and a group of eleven Member States expressed their regret on 22 May at the announcement made the day before by the United States of its withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, which allows for verification of military movements and arms control measures of the 34 signatory countries.
Believing that Russia was violating the treaty, President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the treaty within 6 months, in accordance with its provisions.
"Withdrawing from a treaty is not the solution to address difficulties in its implementation and compliance by another party", the High Representative said in a statement. While urging Russia to return immediately to full implementation of the treaty, he called on the United States to reconsider its decision. He warned that the EU would examine the implications this decision might have for its own security. More generally, Mr Borrell called on all States party to the treaty to continue to recognise the treaty and ensure its full implementation.
This treaty is a "key element of our arms-control architecture (...) [and] is an important contribution to European and global security and stability", the High Representative highlighted. According to him, since its entry into force in 2002, 'Open Skies' has enabled more than 1,500 reconnaissance missions over the territories of all the signatory states.
In another statement, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden deplored the US announcement, while sharing Washington's concern about Russia's implementation of the Treaty's provisions. These countries have committed themselves to continuing the implementation of the treaty "which remains functional and useful". This is "a crucial element of the confidence-building framework that has been created over the past decades to increase transparency and security across the Euro-Atlantic area", they added.
These eleven countries made it clear that they would continue to engage in dialogue with all parties to the treaty, including Russia, again calling on it to lift its restrictions, in particular on overflying Kaliningrad.
The US announcement was followed by an emergency NATO meeting on 22 May. "All states party to the Open Skies Treaty must fully honour their commitments and obligations. All NATO countries are fully complying with all the provisions of this treaty", stressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Noting that the United States might reverse its decision if Russia returned to full compliance, he said that the Allies were committed to dialogue with the Russian authorities to ensure that they take action as soon as possible. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)