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TOPIC: General Studies 2In News: Russia and the other members of the Treaty on Open Skies held a videoconference meeting to discuss the framework's future following America's announcement in late May that it plans to withdraw from the agreement. Background: A 34-member accord, the Treaty on Open Skies allows member states to conduct surveillance flights over one another's territories under certain controlled conditions in order to reduce the likelihood of a war by miscalculation. The U.S.' withdrawal raised concern that the global security architecture will continue to collapse. The Treaty on Open Skies First proposed in 1955 by former US President Dwight Eisenhower as a means to deescalate tensions during the Cold War, the landmark treaty was eventually signed in 1992 between NATO members and former Warsaw Pact countries following the demise of the Soviet Union. It went into effect in 2002 and currently has 35 signatories along with one non-ratifying member (Kyrgyzstan). The OST aims at building confidence among members through mutual openness, thus reducing the chances of accidental war. Under the treaty, 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, such as on troop movements, military exercises and missile deployments, has to be shared with all member states. Only approved imaging equipment is permitted on the surveillance flights, and officials from the host state can also stay on board throughout the planned journey. Significance of the Open Skies Treaty
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