Russia is about to formally request permission from the US to fly surveillance planes with highly advanced cameras over the country, a move that has already alarmed American intelligence and military officials.
Russian and the US are both signatories to the 34-member Open Skies Treaty, which allows member countries to fly unarmed surveillance planes equipped with high-powered digital cameras over one another’s territory and foster transparency about military activities.
Moscow will submit its request to the Vienna-based Open Skies Consultative Commission on Monday, formally asking to be allowed to fly an aircraft with advanced sensors over the US, according to a congressional staffer said on condition of anonymity.
This means President Barack Obama’s administration must decide on granting Russians the permission, or denying them as according to the latest State Department compliance report, Moscow has failed to meet all its obligations under the treaty.
Obama’s decision is particularly important as Russia and the US are at odds over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.
The request has sparked concern among different American officials as it comes at one of the most tension-filled times in the US-Russia relations since the end of the Cold War.