U.S. blocks Turkey's F-35 equipment over S-400 deal with Russia - NBC News

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April 2, 2019, 12:23 PM GMT / Updated April 2, 2019, 12:58 PM GMT

By Mosheh Gains, Abigail Williams and Alexander Smith

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has blocked Turkey from receiving equipment relating to the F-35 fighter jet until its NATO ally cancels an order of a Russian missile defense system.

Washington is deeply unhappy about Turkey's order of Russia's S-400 Triumf, which is among the most advanced and feared air-defense systems in the world.

At the same time, Turkey has ordered 30 of the F-35 stealth fighters and plans to buy more than 100 in total, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp.

Turkey has already "received" its first two jets, although these are currently being kept at Arizona's Luke Air Force Base, where Turkish pilots are training with them.

"The United States has been clear that Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 is unacceptable," acting Pentagon spokesman Charles E. Summers Jr. said in a statement Monday. "Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk."

A new S-400 "Triumph" surface-to-air missile system after its deployment at a military base outside the town of Gvardeysk near Kaliningrad, Russia, March 11, 2019.Vitaly Nevar / Reuters file

Turkey agreed to buy the S-400 system from Russia in 2017, a deal reportedly worth $2.5 billion that's set to begin delivery in July.

After months of warnings and ultimatums, the U.S. suspension represents the first major concrete step in trying force Turkey to rethink. This week marks the alliance's 70th anniversary.

Vice President Mike Pence said in February that the U.S. "will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries."

It is one strand of a increasingly frayed relationship between Washington and its ally that joined NATO in 1952.

The two countries have clashed over Syria, where Turkey opposes U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters who have been instrumental in the fight against ISIS.

Turkey has also been calling for the U.S. to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the exiled cleric currently holed up in a Pennsylvania compound who remains a target of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The S-400 represents arguably the most pressing of these disputes. Code-named "Growler" by NATO, the system boasts a range of 250 miles and is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and drones up to an altitude of 100,000 feet, according to Russian state media.

The U.S. said Monday it was suspending "deliveries and activities associated" with the jet's "operational capability," the spokesman said. In addition, because parts of the F-35 are made in Turkey, the spokesman said the U.S. is now looking at other options for this part of the supply chain.

The ramifications of the S-400 deal could extend further, with "potential future arms transfers" to Turkey from the U.S. also being in jeopardy, a State Department spokesperson said.

Turkey might also face sanctions, thespokesman added, namely under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA, which the U.S. deployed when China bought the S-400 and other equipment from Russia's blacklisted state arms export agency.

The suspension came one day before President Donald Trump is due to meet NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington on Tuesday.

The capital on Thursday will host a summit of the alliance's foreign ministers — including Turkey's — recognizing NATO's 70th anniversary.

Nov. 16, 201805:51

The U.S. and NATO say their biggest concern about the S-400 relates to what they call "interoperability" — making sure all the allies' equipment gels together and communicates seamlessly.

If Turkey buys a Russian missile defense system, it would mean part of its defense infrastructure speaking a different language to the rest of the Western alliance.

Furthermore, some experts worry that if Turkey has both the S-400 and the F-35 on its soil, it will be able to test the Russian system's ability to track the jet, ultimately reducing its effectiveness. Such data would be invaluable were it to fall into the Kremlin's hands.

Mosheh Gains and Abigail Williams reported from Washington, and Alexander Smith reported from London.

Mosheh Gains

Mosheh Gains is a Pentagon producer for NBC News.

Abigail Williams

Alexander Smith

Alexander Smith is a London-based senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Reuters contributed.

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2019-04-02 12:23:00Z
CAIiEP-m-nIsBgSFwg8lrsBcKvIqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowvIaCCzDnxf4CMM2F8gU

Warnings of chaotic 'no-deal' grow amid UK Brexit deadlock - Fox News

LONDON – The alarms are flashing, the cliff-edge is coming closer — but can Britain avoid tumbling out of the European Union?

After lawmakers rejected the government's Brexit deal on three occasions, and twice failed to agree on any other option, the U.K. has just 10 days to come up with a new plan or crash out of the EU.

A look at what might happen next:

NO DEAL

Michel Barnier, who has been the chief Brexit negotiator for the other 27 EU countries, has warned that a 'no-deal' Brexit is "likely" because of Britain's political impasse.

Earlier this month, the EU agreed to postpone the original Brexit date of March 29, but gave Britain only until April 12 to come up with a new plan and seek a further extension, or leave without an agreement or a transition period to smooth the way.

Most politicians, economists and business groups think leaving the world's largest trading bloc without an agreement would be damaging for the EU and disastrous for the U.K. It would lead to tariffs imposed on trade between Britain and the EU, customs checks that could cause gridlock at ports and which could spark shortages of essential goods.

A hard core of Brexiteer legislators in May's Conservative Party dismiss this as "Project Fear" and argue for what they call a "clean Brexit." But most lawmakers are opposed to leaving without a deal. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a 'no-deal' Brexit — but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension.

May says the only way to guarantee Britain does not leave the EU without a deal is for Parliament to back her deal, which lawmakers have already rejected three times.

Barring that, Parliament could try to take drastic action such as toppling the government or legislating to force it to avoid 'no-deal' — though these are risky and tricky options.

___

MAY'S UNDEAD DEAL

After almost two years of negotiations, Britain and the EU struck a divorce deal in November, laying out the terms of the departure from the bloc and giving a rough outline of future relations.

But it has been roundly rejected by lawmakers on both sides of the Brexit divide. Pro-Brexit lawmakers think it keeps Britain too closely tied to EU rules. Pro-EU legislators argue it is worse than the U.K.'s current status as an EU member.

Parliament has thrown it out three times, although the latest defeat, by 58 votes, was the narrowest yet. It was rejected even after May won over some pro-Brexit lawmakers by promising to quit if it was approved.

May is considering one last push this week, arguing that Parliament's failure to back any other deal means her agreement is the best option available. But the odds of success look long.

___

SOFT BREXIT

On Monday, Parliament voted on four alternative proposals to May's rejected deal after lawmakers seized control of the schedule from the government.

None got a majority, but the votes revealed a solid block of support for a "soft Brexit" that would maintain close economic ties between Britain and the EU. A plan to keep the U.K. in an EU customs union, ensuring seamless trade in goods, was defeated by just three votes.

May has ruled those options out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britain's ability to forge new trade deals around the world.

But tweaking her deal to adopt a customs union could gain May valuable votes in Parliament. It also would likely be welcomed by the EU and would allow Britain to leave the bloc in an orderly fashion in the next few months.

However, it would also cause a schism in the Conservative Party, sparking the potential resignation of pro-Brexit government ministers.

___

NEW BREXIT REFERENDUM

Parliament also narrowly rejected a proposal for a new referendum on whether to leave the EU or remain.

The proposal for any Brexit deal to be put to public vote in a "confirmatory referendum" was defeated by 12 votes. It was backed by opposition parties, plus some of May's Conservatives — mainly those who want to stay in the bloc.

Her government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britain's EU membership, saying voters in 2016 made their decision to leave.

But with divisions in both Parliament and in May's Cabinet, handing the decision back to the people in a new plebiscite could be seen as the only way forward.

___

BREXIT DELAYED

The alternative to a "no-deal" departure is to delay Brexit for at least several months, and possibly more than a year, to sort out the mess. The EU is frustrated with the impasse and has said it will only grant another postponement if Britain comes up with a whole new Brexit plan.

The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in the May 23-26 European parliament elections, but that would have to be done if Brexit is delayed. Still, EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain a Brexit extension if it plans to change course.

A long delay raises the chances of an early British election, which could rearrange Parliament and break the deadlock.

___

Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit

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2019-04-02 11:07:13Z
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Trump seems inclined to close border despite potential chaos - CNN

Such a dramatic gesture would fulfill many of Trump's most fundamental short-term political goals and indulge a domineering personality and a desire to please his most vehement supporters that drives so much of his behavior as President.

"Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border!" Trump tweeted on Monday, after telling reporters over the weekend, "I'm not playing games."

Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric and willingness to flout international norms suggest he cares little about the humanitarian and diplomatic implications of such a radical move, which he has threatened to take as early as this week.

Yet the swift and severe economic impact of closing the border -- on industries like auto manufacturing, retail and fresh produce, and on US exports to a top trading partner, Mexico -- could finally stay the President's hand and suggests he could be bluffing again.

There were also signs Monday that the administration could be using the threat of a border closure to leverage more action from regional governments to stop the flight of migrants, when Stephen Miller, Trump's senior adviser, said the President was not quite ready to decide on a border closure.

"We will see how much progress we are able to make in the ensuing days, in terms of getting more enforcement with Central and South America, so that we are not getting swamped by meritless asylum claims predominantly from Central America," Miller told top administration immigration surrogates on a conference call, according to notes taken by a listener and obtained by CNN.

A border closure could immediately hike prices of fruits and vegetables all over the United States at a time of the growing season when Mexico is an especially important source of America's food. Within a few days, shortages could ripple around the country, including in Trump's political heartlands of the Midwest and the South.

"We haven't seen a time in the US when supermarket shelves are bare from fresh produce in a long time," said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. "We have grown very accustomed to having all the food we want when we want to eat it and at a price that is reasonable."

So while Trump would be handing a win on immigration to his supporters on one hand, he could be taking away something even more vital on the other -- a political equation that may weigh against a border closure.

"The impact in the US in general, including with the President's base, would be quite substantial and happen quite quickly," said Geoff Thale, vice president of programs at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights and advocacy organization.

A potential political dead end

Another big political downside for the President is that a border closure may not be the most effective way to mitigate a crisis sparked by a rush of asylum claims. It could cause other problems at the border and walk him into a political dead end from which he would find it hard to extricate himself.

As with many other administration initiatives -- including the recent Justice Department decision to back the eradication of Obamacare -- there's not much evidence of planning ahead by the White House.

Despite sending more customs and border personnel to the US-Mexico frontier on Monday and considering the appointment of an immigration czar, the administration has yet to explain how all or part of the border could be closed or what such a step could mean.

Still, senior White House officials, in public and in private, say they can't predict what the President will do to address what Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says is a "careening" crisis over a spike in migrants flocking to the border. According to Customs and Border Protection, final figures of border crossings by undocumented migrants in March were set to top 100,000, with 40,000 children taken into custody during the month. Nielsen herself left bilateral security meetings in Europe on Monday to return to the US to continue managing the situation at the southern border, a Department of Homeland Security official told CNN's Geneva Sands.

White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that it would take "something dramatic" for the President to step back from his threat to close the border. Trump's political counselor Kellyanne Conway warned on "Fox News Sunday" that her boss's warning "certainly is not a bluff."

CNN's Pamela Brown reported on Monday that officials had explained the legal and practical implications of closing the border to the President earlier in his administration -- including the fact that some people live on one side of the border and send their kids to school or work on the other side.

But Trump is deeply frustrated and is fixated on a closure and has asked aides why the law can't be skirted.

Why closing the border would be so like Trump

If he is true to his most basic instincts, Trump will follow through on his threat.

Closing the border would be the kind of sweeping use of executive power that Trump loves. It would identify -- and punish -- an enemy, Mexico. A border shutdown would defy experts and the permanent bureaucracy in Washington who are worried about the dire consequences of such a step.

And pleasing his base on immigration has been a driving force of his presidency.

It's not clear that weeks of briefings by top officials worried about the impact of closing the border, or warnings by groups like the US Chamber of Commerce that Trump would invite "economic calamity," will sway the President when his mind is set.

He has, after all, an idiosyncratic view of trade, suggesting improbably over the weekend that sealing the border could cut the trade deficit and be a "profit-making operation."

During the longest government shutdown in history, Trump was prepared to inflict pain on hundreds of thousands of Americans -- government workers -- in the vain hope of trying to deliver a political victory for himself by forcing Congress to finance his border wall.

The President also has a tendency to prioritize short-term gains and ignore potential serious damage from his strategies farther down the road.

A case in point was his politically pleasing decision over the weekend to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Central American nations. The move is likely to eventually exacerbate the poor security and social conditions that make migrants flee the lawless countries they call home and head to the US border.

But his move was an aggressive use of presidential power and a blow against the concept of foreign aid in line with his "America First" policy, and it made him look tough to his supporters.

Unlike many other presidents, Trump has often been prepared to gamble with America's reputation and to ignore the implications on complicated international diplomatic questions of decisions on the world stage that benefit him politically.

He has yet to pay a long-term price for moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem or pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. He was warned that both decisions could cause an uproar and damage America's reputation, so he may treat warnings from aides less seriously than might be expected.

Closing border posts along the US-Mexico frontier could exacerbate the migrant crisis -- however politically satisfying it may be for Trump.

One side effect might be to push asylum seekers away from official crossings into upcountry areas. Such a scenario might be used by the President to argue that there is an even greater need for his border wall -- although such spin would represent an audacious manipulation of the facts even for Trump.

A more targeted approach would be an emergency influx of legal officials, judges and asylum specialists to quickly process claims. New emergency accommodation for undocumented migrants along with caregivers could ease grim humanitarian conditions.

Yet the chance of Washington's battling political factions coming together to act seem slim since immigration is an issue that has defied bipartisan solutions for over a decade. Divides have been further exacerbated by Trump's inflammatory rhetoric on an issue that did more than any other to power his political ascent.

"Work with Congress and let's enact comprehensive immigration reform," Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland told CNN's Dana Bash on Monday when asked what Trump should do.

"If the President really wants to get our immigration system the way it should be, work with us for comprehensive immigration reform and stop doing these types of activities that just turns our neighbors against us."

CNN's Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta and Abby Phillip contributed to this story.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/02/politics/donald-trump-immigration-border-closure-crisis/index.html

2019-04-02 11:06:00Z
52780253215618

Trump seems inclined to close border despite potential chaos - CNN

Such a dramatic gesture would fulfill many of Trump's most fundamental short-term political goals and indulge a domineering personality and a desire to please his most vehement supporters that drives so much of his behavior as President.

"Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border!" Trump tweeted on Monday, after telling reporters over the weekend, "I'm not playing games."

Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric and willingness to flout international norms suggest he cares little about the humanitarian and diplomatic implications of such a radical move, which he has threatened to take as early as this week.

Yet the swift and severe economic impact of closing the border -- on industries like auto manufacturing, retail and fresh produce, and on US exports to a top trading partner, Mexico -- could finally stay the President's hand and suggests he could be bluffing again.

There were also signs Monday that the administration could be using the threat of a border closure to leverage more action from regional governments to stop the flight of migrants, when Stephen Miller, Trump's senior adviser, said the President was not quite ready to decide on a border closure.

"We will see how much progress we are able to make in the ensuing days, in terms of getting more enforcement with Central and South America, so that we are not getting swamped by meritless asylum claims predominantly from Central America," Miller told top administration immigration surrogates on a conference call, according to notes taken by a listener and obtained by CNN.

A border closure could immediately hike prices of fruits and vegetables all over the United States at a time of the growing season when Mexico is an especially important source of America's food. Within a few days, shortages could ripple around the country, including in Trump's political heartlands of the Midwest and the South.

"We haven't seen a time in the US when supermarket shelves are bare from fresh produce in a long time," said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. "We have grown very accustomed to having all the food we want when we want to eat it and at a price that is reasonable."

So while Trump would be handing a win on immigration to his supporters on one hand, he could be taking away something even more vital on the other -- a political equation that may weigh against a border closure.

"The impact in the US in general including with the President's base would be quite substantial and happen quite quickly," said Geoff Thale, vice president of programs at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights and advocacy organization.

A potential political dead end

Another big political downside for the President is that a border closure may not be the most effective way to mitigate a crisis sparked by a rush of asylum claims. It could cause other problems at the border and walk him into a political dead end from which he would find it hard to extricate himself.

As with many other administration initiatives -- including the recent Justice Department decision to back the eradication of Obamacare -- there's not much evidence of planning ahead by the White House.

Despite sending more customs and border personnel to the US-Mexico frontier on Monday and considering the appointment of an immigration czar, the administration has yet to explain how all or part of the border could be closed or what such a step could mean.

Still, senior White House officials, in public and in private, say they can't predict what the President will do to address what Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says is a "careening" crisis over a spike in migrants flocking to the border. According to Customs and Border Protection, final figures of border crossings by undocumented migrants in March were set to top 100,000, with 40,000 children taken into custody during the month.

White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that it would take "something dramatic" for the President to step back from his threat to close the border. Trump's political counselor Kellyanne Conway warned on "Fox News Sunday" that her boss's warning "certainly is not a bluff."

CNN's Pamela Brown reported on Monday that officials had explained the legal and practical implications of closing the border to the President earlier in his administration -- including the fact that some people live on one side of the border and send their kids to school or work on the other side.

But Trump is deeply frustrated and is fixated on a closure and has asked aides why the law can't be skirted.

Why closing the border would be so like Trump

If he is true to his most basic instincts, Trump will follow through on his threat.

Closing the border would be the kind of sweeping use of executive power that Trump loves. It would identify -- and punish -- an enemy, Mexico. A border shutdown would defy experts and the permanent bureaucracy in Washington who are worried about the dire consequences of such a step.

And pleasing his base on immigration has been a driving force of his presidency.

It's not clear that weeks of briefings by top officials worried about the impact of closing the border, or warnings by groups like the US Chamber of Commerce that Trump would invite "economic calamity," will sway the President when his mind is set.

He has, after all, an idiosyncratic view of trade, suggesting improbably over the weekend that sealing the border could cut the trade deficit and be a "profit-making operation."

During the longest government shutdown in history, Trump was prepared to inflict pain on hundreds of thousands of Americans -- government workers -- in the vain hope of trying to deliver a political victory for himself by forcing Congress to finance his border wall.

The President also has a tendency to prioritize short-term gains and ignore potential serious damage from his strategies farther down the road.

A case in point was his politically pleasing decision over the weekend to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Central American nations. The move is likely to eventually exacerbate the poor security and social conditions that make migrants flee the lawless countries they call home and head to the US border.

But his move was an aggressive use of presidential power and a blow against the concept of foreign aid in line with his "America First" policy, and it made him look tough to his supporters.

Unlike many other presidents, Trump has often been prepared to gamble with America's reputation and to ignore the implications on complicated international diplomatic questions of decisions on the world stage that benefit him politically.

He has yet to pay a long-term price for moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem or pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. He was warned that both decisions could cause an uproar and damage America's reputation, so he may treat warnings from aides less seriously than might be expected.

Closing border posts along the US-Mexico frontier could exacerbate the migrant crisis -- however politically satisfying it may be for Trump.

One side effect might be to push asylum seekers away from official crossings into upcountry areas. Such a scenario might be used by the President to argue that there is an even greater need for his border wall -- although such spin would represent an audacious manipulation of the facts even for Trump.

A more targeted approach would be an emergency influx of legal officials, judges and asylum specialists to quickly process claims. New emergency accommodation for undocumented migrants along with caregivers could ease grim humanitarian conditions.

Yet the chance of Washington's battling political factions coming together to act seem slim since immigration is an issue that has defied bipartisan solutions for over a decade. Divides have been further exacerbated by Trump's inflammatory rhetoric on an issue that did more than any other to power his political ascent.

"Work with Congress and let's enact comprehensive immigration reform," Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland told CNN's Dana Bash on Monday when asked what Trump should do.

"If the President really wants to get our immigration system the way it should be, work with us for comprehensive immigration reform and stop doing these types of activities that just turns our neighbors against us."

CNN's Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta and Abby Phillip contributed to this story.

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2019-04-02 09:52:00Z
52780253215618

As Brexit deadlock stands, here's what could happen next - CNBC

Drastic measures surrounding Brexit — including a no-deal departure or a snap general election — could be on the cards after the British Parliament failed yet again to agree on any alternative options.

Having rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal three times, U.K. Members of Parliament (MPs) voted Monday evening on four alternative options in the process, but all of them were rejected by a majority of lawmakers.

The option that came the closest to gaining a majority was a proposal to keep Britain in a permanent customs union with the EU. Meanwhile, a proposal for a confirmatory referendum on any deal got the most votes but was defeated by 292 to 280.

There is an increasing expectation now that Britain could go in one of four directions — toward a no-deal departure from the bloc, holding a snap general election, Parliament agreeing to the U.K. remaining within a customs union with the EU and/or holding a confirmatory referendum on any eventual strategy.

The defeat of alternative proposals has thrown British politics and Brexit into further confusion just days ahead of a default "no-deal" departure from the EU. There is also a tangible sense of disbelief in Europe at the inability of the U.K. to agree on Brexit.

Speaking in Brussels Tuesday, the bloc's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said a no-deal departure was becoming more likely "by the day," and that a strong justification would be needed for the EU to agree to a longer Brexit delay.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay reminded Parliament Monday night that Britain was scheduled to leave the EU on April 12 if no deal was in place. A no-deal exit is seen as a dreaded cliff-edge scenario for businesses where the country has the rely on WTO trading rules.

But another delay to the departure date may need to be lengthy with the U.K. being urged to participate in EU Parliamentary elections in late May. A lengthy delay is a concern for pro-Brexit politicians who worry that it could lead to the whole process losing momentum.

Prime Minister May could attempt to hold a fourth vote on her Brexit deal later this week, despite three earlier defeats of the withdrawal agreement. Meanwhile, opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn called for another round of so-called "indicative votes" for Wednesday.

Sterling fell almost 1 percent to $1.3048 following the votes Monday night and was trading around the same mark Tuesday morning; London's FTSE 100 index was 0.3 percent higher in early deals.

Steen Jakobson, chief investment officer at Saxobank, told CNBC Tuesday that parliamentary debates over Brexit resembled a "trench war."

"If we go to the market implication, the hard no-deal (Brexit) has to be priced higher and higher for every hour that passes without any decision."

As Parliament shows itself so far unwilling to find a compromise, Brexit watchers have spoken of the possibility of a snap general election. How that could turn out is anyone's guess with Brexit throwing up unprecedented division among lawmakers and the public.

J.P. Morgan Economist Malcolm Barr noted that "the next day or so is likely to involve no small amount of finger pointing among those seeking either a 'softer' Brexit or a 'People's vote'." A People's Vote refers to a referendum on the Brexit deal on offer or revoking the whole departure process.

"We continue to think that a general election is the single most likely path forward in the coming weeks, even though that event raises a lot of questions for politicians on all sides," Barr said in a note Monday evening.

"With the indicative votes process having come so close to identifying a 'softer' path tonight, it looks likely more bargaining and tweaks to the motions will generate a positive outturn on Wednesday. It is not clear to us how PM May can forestall that, and the potential split in her party that could follow."

The EU's Barnier signaled that the bloc could accept a customs union with the U.K. but noted that the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit "will be through a positive majority in the House of Commons" (the lower house of Parliament) putting the ball back in the U.K.'s court.

Lutfey Siddiqi, visiting professor-in-practice at the London School of Economics, told CNBC he believed that a middle way would still be found.

"Parliament has no appetite for a no-deal Brexit or no Brexit … I can see a center of gravity emerging in Parliament where it's towards a customs union perhaps with a confirmatory vote," he told CNBC's "Capital Connection" Tuesday.

"It's a game of brinkmanship (with the EU). We've got these two cars hurtling towards each other but in the British car there's a tussle going on both for the steering wheel and for the GPS navigation system. That makes it very hard to predict the exact sequence (of events)."

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https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/02/brexit-what-could-happen-next.html

2019-04-02 08:16:16Z
52780249686109

Pentagon stops deliveries of F-35 parts, manuals to Turkey over purchase of Russian air defense system - Fox News

An F-35 fighter jet is seen in this undated photo. The Pentagon announced it "suspended" deliveries of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey over the Middle Eastern country's decision to purchase a Russian air defense system over Washington's objection. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Deseree Kamm, File)

The Department of Defense announced Monday that it "suspended" deliveries of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey over the Middle Eastern country's decision to purchase a Russian air defense system over Washington's objection.

The U.S. had agreed to sell 100 of its latest, fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey, initially planning to deliver the first two aircraft to Turkey in June. However, top government officials repeatedly have threatened to stop the sale if Ankara did not abandon efforts to buy the Russian S-400 system.

"The United States has been clear that Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 is unacceptable," said acting Pentagon spokesman Charles Summers Jr., who added: "[U]ntil they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability.  Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk."

The U.S. move came just three days after Turkey's foreign minister said his country, a NATO ally, was committed to the deal to buy the Russian system and was discussing delivery dates.

"As a principle, it is contrary to international laws for a third country to oppose an agreement between two countries," Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. "We are committed to this agreement. There can be no such thing as selling to a third country. We are buying them for our own needs."

Cavusoglu also insisted Turkey had met all of its obligations concerning the F-35 program.

The U.S. and other NATO allies have complained repeatedly about the purchase, saying it was not compatible with other allied systems and would represent a threat to the F-35.

Last month, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, the outgoing Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that "my best military advice would be that we don't then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with an ally that is working with Russian systems, particularly air defense systems."

Officials also have expressed concerns that Turkey's acquisition of both U.S. and Russian systems could give Moscow access to sophisticated American technology and allow it to find ways to counter the F-35.

Pentagon leaders have warned that ending Turkey's participation in production likely would force other allies to take on that role and could delay aircraft delivery.

Summers said Monday that the Pentagon "has initiated steps necessary to ensure prudent program planning and resiliency of the F-35 supply chain. Secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts are now in development.

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"We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, and the DoD is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology," he said.

U.S. leaders have pressed Turkey to buy an American-made air defense battery, and in December the State Department approved the sale of a $3.5 billion U.S. Patriot system to Ankara.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-04-02 07:02:46Z
52780257626718

Pentagon stops deliveries of F-35 parts, manuals to Turkey over purchase of Russian air defense system - Fox News

An F-35 fighter jet is seen in this undated photo. The Pentagon announced it "suspended" deliveries of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey over the Middle Eastern country's decision to purchase a Russian air defense system over Washington's objection. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Deseree Kamm, File)

The Department of Defense announced Monday that it "suspended" deliveries of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey over the Middle Eastern country's decision to purchase a Russian air defense system over Washington's objection.

The U.S. had agreed to sell 100 of its latest, fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey, initially planning to deliver the first two aircraft to Turkey in June. However, top government officials repeatedly have threatened to stop the sale if Ankara did not abandon efforts to buy the Russian S-400 system.

"The United States has been clear that Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 is unacceptable," said acting Pentagon spokesman Charles Summers Jr., who added: "[U]ntil they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability.  Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk."

The U.S. move came just three days after Turkey's foreign minister said his country, a NATO ally, was committed to the deal to buy the Russian system and was discussing delivery dates.

"As a principle, it is contrary to international laws for a third country to oppose an agreement between two countries," Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. "We are committed to this agreement. There can be no such thing as selling to a third country. We are buying them for our own needs."

Cavusoglu also insisted Turkey had met all of its obligations concerning the F-35 program.

The U.S. and other NATO allies have complained repeatedly about the purchase, saying it was not compatible with other allied systems and would represent a threat to the F-35.

Last month, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, the outgoing Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that "my best military advice would be that we don't then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with an ally that is working with Russian systems, particularly air defense systems."

Officials also have expressed concerns that Turkey's acquisition of both U.S. and Russian systems could give Moscow access to sophisticated American technology and allow it to find ways to counter the F-35.

Pentagon leaders have warned that ending Turkey's participation in production likely would force other allies to take on that role and could delay aircraft delivery.

Summers said Monday that the Pentagon "has initiated steps necessary to ensure prudent program planning and resiliency of the F-35 supply chain. Secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts are now in development.

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"We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, and the DoD is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology," he said.

U.S. leaders have pressed Turkey to buy an American-made air defense battery, and in December the State Department approved the sale of a $3.5 billion U.S. Patriot system to Ankara.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pentagon-stops-f-35-part-deliveries-to-turkey-over-purchase-of-russian-air-defense-system

2019-04-02 06:41:01Z
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