https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-exits-open-skies-treaty-moves-to-discard-observation-planes-11606055371
Trump administration announced 6 months ago that they would leave the Open Skies Treaty that keeps many European countries - including Russia - more comfortable with each other. The treaty lowers any chance of war by letting these countries and the USA fly specialized planes over each other's territory - I suppose to keep an eye on each other and not allow paranoia to form and grow.
Mark Esper announced 4 months ago the cancellation of a plan to replace the 2 Open Skies planes needed for the multi-nation program to operate properly.
Nov 22, Trump administration formally withdrawls from Open Skies (without consulting congress as legally required). and announces plans to liquidate the 2 planes currently in use, presumably before January 20th.
No treaty + old planes gone + no new planes coming
Now, Biden would need congress to approve money to buy more of these specialized planes if he attempts to undo what Trump has done here.
Under the treaty, the viewed country can tell the viewing country to use their planes. So if Biden re-entered the treaty, they could use the Russian planes.
