Government responds to Lords Select Committee letter setting out position on United States withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty and expiry of the New START Treaty in 2021
Friday 6 November 2020
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Rt. Hon James Cleverly MP has responded to a letter from the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee which set out concerns about the impact of the US’s planned withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, and the expiry of the New Start Treaty between the US and Russia in 2021.
In the response the Minister made clear that the Government increased engagement with the US Administration at a senior and expert level once it became apparent the US were considering withdrawing from the Treaty. He also made clear that they have been working closely with the US on strategic arms control and the Foreign Secretary held recent discussions on the extension of New START with US Security Advisor O’Brien.
