Open Sky Treaty (OST)

Subject: International treaty

Context: After USA, Russia also has withdrawn from the Open Sky Treaty.

Concept:

This withdrawal is among the rising trend of USA withdrawing from major international pacts reducing relevance of pacts and other countries following suit, thus weakening the multilateralism.
USA accused Russia of non-compliance with OST protocols, blaming Moscow of obstructing surveillance flights on its territory, while misusing its own missions for gathering key tactical data and withdraw from OST.

About Open Sky Treaty:

It is 34-member treaty (key Arms control framework) allowing participants to fly unarmed reconnaissance flights over any part of their fellow member states.
It was proposed way back in 1955 during the rising tensions in cold war. But it could be signed only post fall of Soviet Union in 1992.
Currently it has 35 signatories (before USA withdrawal) along with one non-ratifying member (Kyrgyzstan).
It aims at mutual openness to reduce the chances of accidental war.
Under this a member state can “spy” on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent.
A country can undertake aerial imaging over the host state after giving notice 72 hours before, and sharing its exact flight path 24 hours before.
The information gathered under such operations such as on troop movements, military exercises and missile deployments, has to be shared with all member states.