US Blocks Russian Surveillance Flights Despite Open Skies Treaty – Russian MoD

US Blocks Russian Surveillance Flights Despite Open Skies Treaty – Russian MoD

The Open Skies Treaty covers most NATO member states as well as Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden and Finland. As a rule, flights of Russia and NATO member states are conducted on a reciprocal basis. The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has revealed in August that the US would not obligate any funds to implement the Open Skies Treaty until penalties are imposed against Russia for previous violations.