Open Skies Treaty: US tells Russia it will not rejoin key arms control deal

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The US has told Russia it will not rejoin an arms control deal that permits unarmed aerial flights over dozens of participating countries.

The state department said the Open Skies Treaty “has been undermined by Russia’s violations” and its failure to return to compliance.

Russia denies the allegations, and the country is also expected to withdraw from the treaty this year.

The accord allows short-notice flights to monitor military activity.

More than 30 nations participate in the treaty which came into force in 2002.

A mechanism to assure against surprise attack

“The United States regrets that the Treaty on Open Skies has