US warns Turkey not to buy Russian missiles

US warned Turkey of not to procure Russian missile defense system. the US considers the Russian missile defense system is a threat to its F-35 fighter aircraft.

Washington: The US State Department is warning Turkey against moving ahead with plans to buy a Russian missile defense system that the Pentagon believes would be a threat to USF-35 fighter aircraft.

The State Department made the remarks on a day when the head of US European Command spoke to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and said Turkey should reconsider its plan to buy the S-400 from Russia this year.

"We've clearly warned Turkey that its potential acquisition of the S400 will result in a reassessment of Turkey's participation in the F-35 program, and risk other potential future arms transfers to Turkey, said State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Palladino.

The US had agreed to sell 100 of its latest, fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey, and has so far delivered two of the aircraft. But Congress last year ordered a delay in future deliveries.

Palladino also reiterated US support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Guaido returned to Venezuela Monday and called for the downfall of President Nicolas Maduro at a rally where the presence of security forces was minimal.

Palladino applauded Monday's federal court decision in Washington to deny the emergency request of Hoda Muthana, an Alabama woman who joined the Islamic State, but now wants to return to the US.

The US says Muthana is not a citizen because her father was a Yemeni diplomat at the time of her birth in New Jersey.

Palladino urged Pakistan and India to continue to de-escalate tensions caused by last month's suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed dozens of Indian troops.

Pakistan's Interior Ministry said Tuesday that authorities arrested 44 suspects, including at least two prominent members of the outlawed militant group, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

Palladino also offered condolences to the friends and families of four Americans who died when their helicopter crashed at a national park in Kenya on Sunday.

A prominent Colorado political consultant and two entrepreneurs from California were among the four who died.