US pulling out from Open Skies treaty

WASHINGTON: The United States said yesterday it would withdraw from the 35nation Open Skies treaty allowing unarmed surveillance flights over member countries.

The Administration said Russia had repeatedly violated the pact’s terms. Senior officials said the pullout would formally take place in six months, but President Donald Trump held out the possibility that Russia could come into compliance.

‘‘I think we have a very good relationship with Russia. But Russia didn’t adhere to the treaty. So until they adhere, we will pull out,’’ he said.

Nato allies and some other countries had pressed Washington not to leave the treaty, whose unarmed overflights are aimed at bolstering confidence and warning members of surprise military attacks.

In Moscow, RIA state news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying Russia had not violated the treaty and nothing prevented the continuation of talks on technical issues that Washington called violations.

Some experts worry a US exit from the treaty, which will halt Russian overflights of the United States, could prompt Moscow’s withdrawal, which would end overflights of Russia by the remaining members, weakening European security at a time when Russianbacked separatists are holding parts of Ukraine and Georgia.

Trump’s decision deepened concerns Washington would also pull out of the 2010 New START accord, which limits US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1550 each. It expires in February.

However, White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said yesterday he did not think that would happen.

‘‘We are going to enter into good faith negotiations with the Russians on nuclear arms control,’’ he said.