Open Skies Treaty
The Open Skies Treaty is one of the few remaining arms control mechanisms between Vancouver and Vladivostok. Since 2002, the unique agreement permits states to conduct unarmed observation flights over other member states’ entire territories. The main objective is to be able to observe military changes. The treaty has currently 33 members and particularly promotes military transparency and confidence building between states. Representatives of the observed state can be on board of the observing aircraft. States can request all images that are collected during overflights of other treaty members. After the USA had already withdrawn from the agreement in autumn 2020, Russia announced in January 2021 that it would also leave the treaty. Although European member states and Canada continue to support the treaty, its future is uncertain.
Alexander Graef and Moritz Kütt are currently working on the Open Skies Treaty. Members of the U.S.-German-Russian Deep Cuts Commission analyze the agreement, too.
The U.S. and the Treaty on Open Skies
Dr. Alexander GraefRead moreThe United States have announced their intention to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. The decision will take effect in November this year. However, already on 06 July a state conference of all…
More on the Treaty on Open Skies
IFSH Report Provides Incoming Federal Government with Recommendations on Arms Control
Christopher Fichtlscherer, Dr Pia Fuhrhop, Dr Alexander Graef, Dr Mischa Hansel, Dr Alexander Kelle, Dr Ulrich Kühn, Dr Moritz Kütt, Dr Oliver Meier, Dr Neil Renic, Professor Dr Elvira Rosert, Dr Jantje Silomon, Franziska Stärk, Maren VielufRead more
In the coming years, the new German federal government will be faced with three difficult arms control issues. The government must create new approaches, protect existing ones, and further develop…
How to fix, preserve and strengthen the Open Skies Treaty?
Dr. Oliver MeierRead moreThe Deep Cuts Project cordially invites you to the following Zoom briefing:
After the Trump Administration's declared exit: How to fix, preserve and strengthen the Open Skies Treatyon
June 12,…
(Re)searching for Peace: First Anniversary of “Arms of Control and Emerging Technologies” at the IFSH
Read moreThe world is in a state of upheaval. States are arming themselves. Newer and even more powerful weapons are being developed, and some are already being put to use. From the termination of the INF…
New Issue Brief of the Deep Cuts Project about the Treaty on Open Skies
Lina-Marieke HilgertRead moreA picture, it is said, is worth 1,000 words. The air image-centric Treaty on Open Skies embodies that concept perfectly. The sharp pictures shared among all the parties to the treaty create more…
Open Skies-Treaty on the Brink of Collapse? Interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Dr. Alexander Graef, Dr. Moritz KüttRead moreThe Open Skies Treaty is in danger. IFSH researcher Alexander Graef and Moritz Kütt talked to Thomas Gaulkin from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists about their Open Skies visualization project…
IFSH researchers visualize the Open Skies Treaty
Dr. Alexander Graef Dr. Moritz KüttRead moreThe Open Skies Treaty is in danger. Signed in March 1992, it has been in force since January 2002 and permits 34 states in Europe and North America, including Germany, to conduct unarmed observation…
Books and Edited Volumes
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Kühn, Ulrich. 2020.
The Rise and Fall of Cooperative Arms Control in Europe.
Demokratie, Sicherheit, Frieden 224. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlag. DOI: 10.5771/9783748903239.
Largely identical with -
Kühn, Ulrich. 2016.
Cooperative Arms Control in Europe (1973–2014). A Case of Regime Decay?.
Hamburg.
Book Chapters
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Kertysova, Katarina,
Alexander Graef. 2021.
Open Skies in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities.
In: On Thin Ice? Perspectives on Arctic Security, edited by Duncan Depledge, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, 91-106. Peterborough, ON: North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN).
Updated version published as -
Kertysova, Katarina,
Alexander Graef. 2021.
Open Skies in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities.
Euro-Atlantic Security Report. London: European Leadership Network.
Working Papers and Policy Briefs
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Kertysova, Katarina,
Alexander Graef. 2021.
Open Skies in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities.
Euro-Atlantic Security Report. London: European Leadership Network.
Updated version of -
Kertysova, Katarina,
Alexander Graef. 2021.
Open Skies in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities.
In: On Thin Ice? Perspectives on Arctic Security, edited by Duncan Depledge, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, 91-106. Peterborough, ON: North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN). -
Graef, Alexander. 2020.
Saving the Open Skies Treaty: Challenges and possible scenarios after the U.S. withdrawal.
Policy Brief. London: European Leadership Network. -
Bell, Alexandra,
Wolfgang Richter,
Andrei Zagorski. 2020.
How to fix, preserve and strengthen the Open Skies Treaty.
Deep Cuts Issue Brief 9. Hamburg: IFSH.
Commentaries and other Publications
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Graef, Alexander. 2021.
Is There a Future for Open Skies Without Russia? Hybrid War: Russia vs. the West.
In: Carnegie Moscow Center -
Graef, Alexander. 2021.
The Skies are Closing In.
In: Riddle -
Graef, Alexander. 2020.
Goodbye, Open Skies?.
In: Riddle -
Graef, Alexander. 2020.
US-Rückzug aus „Open Skies“-Abkommen. Haltet Russland im Vertrag.
In: TAZ -
Graef, Alexander. 2020.
Haltet den Himmel offen!.
In: FAZ.net -
Graef, Alexander,
Moritz Kütt. 2020.
Visualizing the Open Skies Treaty.
In: Openskies.flights -
Graef, Alexander. 2019.
Sicherheitspolitik: Der «Vertrag über den Offenen Himmel» ist gefährdet.
In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung