Rejoining Open Skies would send ‘wrong message’ to Russia, State tells partners 3 hours ago An American OC-135B takes off at Kubinka air base in Russia. The aircraft was used under the Open Skies Treaty. (Artyom_Anikeev/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — The United States appears unlikely to rejoin the 34-nation Open Skies Treaty over its concerns about Russian noncompliance, with the Biden administration telling international partners in a recent diplomatic memo obtained by Defense News that doing so would send the “wrong message” to Russia. The note, sent days before the U.S. Air Force confirmed plans to retire the aging aircraft used to fulfill the mutual surveillance pact, may signal the end of hopes that the U.S. will rejoin the agreement.