US gives Turkey to July 31 to backtrack on Russia missile deal
Washington: The United States on Friday gave Turkey until the end of July to abandon a deal made with Russia to buy an S-400 missile defense system, which Washington considers incompatible with Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program.
If by July 31 Turkey does not give up on the S-400 system, Turkish pilots currently training in the United States on the F-35 will be expelled, and agreements with Turkish firms sub-contracted for manufacturing the F-35 stealth warplane will be cancelled, Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, told reporters.
Lord said the deadline "will allow sufficient time for Turkish personnel associated with the F-35 program to be reassigned and depart the United States... to facilitate an orderly cessation of Turkish participation."
She justified the US ultimatum by the fact that Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, had already sent its personnel to Russia to start training with the S-400.
On Tuesday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was "determined" to proceed with the Russia deal.
US officials have said they expected Turkey to opt for the American Patriot system instead, arguing that would allow the F-35 program to continue.
Turkey plans to buy 100 US F-35s. Erdogan said he told the US that Ankara would buy Patriots only if Washington's conditions of delivery were as positive as Moscow's.
"But unfortunately we haven't received a positive proposal from the American side on the subject of Patriots like the S-400s from Russia," he said.
Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he had sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar informing him of Washington's decision.
The US offer for the Patriots was "very competitive," Shanahan told reporters.
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3 killed in motorcycle-SUV collision in Jharkhand's Palamu
Medininagar (PTI): Three persons, including two boys, were killed after their motorcycle collided with an SUV in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Friday.
The accident happened near Barwadih in the Patan police station area on Thursday night, they said.
"Two persons died on the spot, while the third person succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment at Medinirai Medical College and Hospital," a police official said.
"We have seized the motorcycle and the SUV. The driver and other occupants of the SUV fled following the accident, leaving their vehicle behind," he added.
