Ariz. GOP calls on RNC Chair McDaniel to resign

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 09: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration continues to claim that there may have been widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:11 PM PT – Friday, December 9, 2022

The Republican Party of Arizona has officially called for RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to step down.

The organization’s executive committee passed a unanimous resolution on Thursday urging McDaniel to resign. The committee called on the RNC to elect new leadership in 2023. According to the resolution, McDaniel had publicly told members of the RNC that she would not seek another term.

This comes after the Republican Party’s disappointing performance in the midterm elections, that ended with Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) winning over Herschel Walker (R-Ga.) in Georgia’s Senate runoff election. Warnock’s victory gave Democrats a 51-seat majority in the Senate.

McDaniel is also currently facing challenges from the MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, as well from Conservative Attorney Harmeet Dhillon. Both are critical of her and have officially put in their bids for the position.

Lindell had previously stated that McDaniel should step down as RNC Chair woman or she will be “Leaving the country to be run by the Uni-Party and the Democrats.”

However, McDaniel appears to be on track for re-election after having secured the endorsements of 101 RNC members who will vote in January.

Japan, Britain and Italy plan to work together to develop new generation of fighter jets

F-15 jets fly during the military review at the Ground Self-Defence Force's Asaka training ground on October 27, 2013. Around 3,900 personnel, 240 armoured vehicles and 50 aircrafts took part in the inspection parade. AFP PHOTO / Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images)F-15 jets fly during the military review at the Ground Self-Defence Force’s Asaka training ground on October 27, 2013. (TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:27 PM PT – Friday, December 9, 2022

On Friday morning, Japan announced that they will work together with Britain and Italy to develop the next generation of fighter jets. This comes as it looks to expand defense cooperation beyond the United States.

The three nations announced the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the planned Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet which will replace Japan’s aging F-2. The F-2 had previously been developed alongside the United States.

“We are announcing the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) – an ambitious endeavor to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035,” British, Japanese and Italian leaders said in a joint statement.

The development on the new fleet of aircrafts is set to start in 2024 and is expected to be ready for deployment in 2035.

🇬🇧🤝🇯🇵🤝🇮🇹

UK, Japan and Italy have agreed to launch the Global Combat Air Programme to develop a future fighter jet.

1⃣ Entering service from 2035
2⃣ Combining defence industry expertise
3⃣ Creating high-skilled jobs in the UK and partner countries

👉 https://t.co/oUNNdClgl7 pic.twitter.com/HdUvUqp28k

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 9, 2022

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced that the new aircraft will be a stealth fighter with capabilities such as advanced censors and networking. The new aircraft will be beyond the American F-35 and the multinational European Eurofighter jet.

The Prime Ministers of 🇬🇧🇮🇹🇯🇵 have announced a new coalition to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets.

Taking to the skies by 2035, this new system could include:

💠uncrewed aircraft

💠advanced sensors

💠cutting-edge weapons

💠innovative data systems

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 9, 2022

This deal will allow Japan to have greater countering capabilities to China in the region. It will also allow Britain to have a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The announcement came days after Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had set spending targets to build up his country’s military. One of his targeted included a boost in defense spending over the next five years.

In a joint statement with the Japanese Defense Ministry released on Friday, the Pentagon gave their full support to the three nations.

“The United States supports Japan’s security and defense cooperation with likeminded allies and partners, including with the United Kingdom and Italy – two close partners of both of our countries – on the development of its next fighter aircraft,” the US-Japan statement said.

This announcement comes amid increased tensions with China, Russia and North Korea. Russia and China are allegedly thought to be pursuing a sixth-generation aircraft.