Trump admin screws Biden, Europe (Open Skies)

[T'Chenka]

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.

[jimrtex]

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.

[Sir Mohamed]

The bigger issue here is that congress is so unwilling to approve most treaties and appropriate funds for their implementation? The federal govt wastes so many billions with the defense budget and tax breaks for big business, but it's not possible to get money for this? Sure, this treaty may have flaws, but that's not the point. Just tells us how dysfunctional Capitol Hill has become. Entering and leaving treaties by Executive Order is not the way it's supposed to be. Also makes us less reliable in negotiations with foreign powers since our word doesn't necessarily count beyond a single admin.

[Old Man Willow]

Well, neolibs should be happy as they certainly don't seem to want Americans "comfortable" with muh Russia.

[Vaccinated Russian Bear]

These plans were known for 1-2 years now IIRC, but Media didn't do a big thing of it because they didn't want to spoil Russia Hoax.

[DINGO Joe]

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.

So, Trump wants us to use the Russian planes?  interesting.

[T'Chenka]

Just tells us how dysfunctional Capitol Hill has become. Entering and leaving treaties by Executive Order is not the way it's supposed to be.

Trump leaving the treaty without 4 months of congressional approval / notice is technically illegal, opening it up for Biden to immediately reverse the decision due to it's illegality. So it makes sense that Trump also took away the planes and the funding for new planes too. Trump couldn't possibly have left Biden any path to avoiding disarray, now could he?

[President Johnson]

The bigger issue here is that congress is so unwilling to approve most treaties and appropriate funds for their implementation? The federal govt wastes so many billions with the defense budget and tax breaks for big business, but it's not possible to get money for this? Sure, this treaty may have flaws, but that's not the point. Just tells us how dysfunctional Capitol Hill has become. Entering and leaving treaties by Executive Order is not the way it's supposed to be. Also makes us less reliable in negotiations with foreign powers since our word doesn't necessarily count beyond a single admin.

I agree, though that's on Republican obstructionism. The USMCA deal was approved by congress since most Democrats chose to support since it made modest improvements over Nafta. Republicans chose to torpedo the Iran Nuclear Agreement because the Obama Administration negotiated it (and some lobbying from Bibi). Of course that agreement was imperfect, but not nearly as bad as Republicans pretend. Same with the Paris Accords, because many Republicans still deny climate change. If these were approved by congress, Trump could not have withdrawn from them.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Putin: "OK, Donald the what I need you to do now is not allow me to fly planes over US territory."
Trump: "Sure thing, boss."

[CrimsonCommander688]

How does this benefit Putin?

[T'Chenka]

How does this benefit Putin?

It doesn't (necessarily). Nobody claimed it did.