Trump signs $738 billion defence Bill

Washington, December 21

US President Donald Trump has signed into law a $738 billion defence Bill which includes controversial provisions calling for sanctions against Russia and Turkey.

Trump approved the 2020 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), which will increase the US military spending by about $20 billion, or about 2.8 per cent, on Friday night at a signing ceremony held at the Joint Base Andrews near Washington, reports Xinhua news agency.

The sprawling legislation has stirred up opposition overseas as it contains punitive provisions against Russia, Turkey and other countries.

The Bill notes that the “(NDAA) protects European energy security by imposing sanctions related to Russian energy pipelines Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream”.

Despite facing potential sanctions, Russia and Germany have reaffirmed their commitments to complete the Nord Stream 2 project and put it into operation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week in Washington that “neither Nord Stream 2 nor TurkStream will stop”.

The Bill also renewed a decision to exclude Turkey from the US-led F-35 fighter jet program in retaliation against Ankara’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defence system. It also claimed that the Trump administration should impose sanctions on Turkey over the S-400 purchase. Turkey accused the US Congress of “hostile” behaviour after senators passed the NDAA earlier this week. — IANS

Approves Russia-Europe gas pipeline sanctions

Washington: President Donald Trump on Friday signed off on US sanctions against companies building a Russian natural gas pipeline to Germany that Congress fears will give the Kremlin dangerous leverage over European allies. They target companies building the nearly USD 11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea with the aim of doubling deliveries of Russian natural gas to Europe’s leading economy, Germany. US lawmakers have warned the pipeline would enrich a hostile Russian government and vastly increase President Vladimir Putin’s influence in Europe at a time of heightened tension across the continent. AFP

Iinterference, says china

Shanghai: China’s top lawmaking body on Saturday criticised the defense Bill that Washington passed as “interference”, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. You Wenze, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with the decision. Reuters