Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 5, 2019

SCMP/AFP: US fights with Nato allies at birthday celebration

* US Vice-President Mike Pence delivers stinging rebuke both to Germany and Turkey
* The 70th anniversary comes amid rising concern over Russia

Tensions have soared between the United States and two of its Nato partners, Germany and Turkey, marring a 70th birthday celebration for the alliance aimed at showing a united front against a resurgent Russia.

Hours before foreign ministers from the 29-member Western alliance opened talks in Washington with a leisurely reception on Wednesday, US Vice-President Mike Pence delivered a stinging rebuke both to Germany over its level of defence spending and to Turkey for buying a major arms system from Russia.

“Germany must do more. And we cannot ensure the defence of the West if our allies grow dependent on Russia,” Pence told a think-tank forum on the Nato anniversary.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 5, 2019

NATO celebrates 70th anniversary, despite member tensions -- CBC/AP

US to Europe on NATO: Washington is more than Donald Trump -- DW

As NATO turns 70, alliance increases aid to Ukraine to confront Russia -- PBS

NATO to Deter Russia in Black Sea With Heightened Surveillance, U.S. Says -- Moscow Times

German Lawmaker Brands NATO ‘Security Risk for The World’ -- Sputnik

Germany split on NATO defense spending target: survey -- DW

NATO chief: China's economy, military a 'rising power' -- FOX News

Pompeo urges NATO allies to adapt to new China, Russia threats -- Al Jazeera

Pentagon wants more resources to counter Russia, China threats -- UPI

Here’s why a Russian surveillance plane was in the US taking photos of military activities -- Military Times/AP

Marines Accelerating F-35C Procurement to Support Carrier Deployments; F-35B Buys Would Slow -- USNI News

The Army is willing to spend big to support the cyber mission -- Fifth Domain

Protecting the borders is now a military mission -- James Durso, The Hill

Shanahan Likely Will Be Trump's Defense Nominee, Inhofe Says -- Bloomberg

Senate panel to hold first 'Space Force' hearing next week -- The Hill

Pentagon appoints officer to do new review of Niger attack -- AP

Trump laments military spending by U.S., China and Russia, floats deal idea -- AP

US Seeks to Expand F-35 Jet Sales to Greece, Romania, Poland -- Sputnik

Polish Defence Minister Hopes to Speed Up Talks on Purchasing US F-35 Jets -- Sputnik

Relax Lockheed, We Need F-35s and F-15s to Meet Our Defense Needs -- Brian McNicoll, American Spectator

$7 Billion in Equipment Looted From Former US Base in Afghanistan -- Antiwar.com

Reshaping the Fleet in the Pacific: F-35Bs, Distributed Lethality and Unmanned Systems, and Allied Capabilities -- SDLinfo

Canada won't extend peacekeeping mission in Mali: Freeland -- Canadian Press

Air Force Receives More F-35s for Turkey; Pilot Training Continues -- Military.com

US Couldn't Offer Turkey Same Conditions on Patriot as Russia on S-400 - Erdogan -- Sputnik

Pentagon nixes Turkish offer to address S-400 fears -- Al-Monitor

Russian navy navigating stormy seas -- France 24

Russia revamps Arctic military base to stake claim on region -- AP

Russia Detected 24 Foreign Spy Jets Approaching Its Airspace Over Past Week -- Sputnik

Journal Claims Russian Troops Have Psychic Powers -- Popular Mechanics

Pakistan calls for 'truth' from India on aerial dogfight -- Al Jazeera

Why a U.S. Sale of Fighter Jets to Taiwan Matters -- John Lee, The Diplomat

Japan’s Very Busy Fighter Force -- Peter Layton, Interpreter