US House of Representatives lawmakers released details on Friday of a US $717 billion annual defence policy bill, including efforts to compete with Russia and China and a measure to temporarily halt weapons sales to Turkey. The committee will not release the bill itself until next week, but Republicans, who control the panel, and the minority Democrats, each released summaries. But it also includes a rule, backed by President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, that would allow Trump to end some sanctions imposed on Russia in legislation Congress passed overwhelmingly last summer despite the president's objections. Although Turkey is a NATO ally, relations between Ankara and Washington recently have deteriorated. Turkey supported the US fight against Islamic State, but has become increasingly worried about US backing for Kurdish fighters in Syria.

Source: dna May 05, 2018 00:56 UTC