Several key U.S. allies are abandoning or reconsidering purchases of the F-35 fighter jet, citing soaring costs, political mistrust, and a desire for greater defense autonomy.
At a Glance
- Spain officially canceled its F-35 plans in favor of European alternatives
- Switzerland may cut its F-35 order due to cost overruns and tariff disputes
- Canada is weighing Nordic collaboration instead of following through on F-35 procurement
- Portugal expressed reluctance to pursue the F-35 amid political uncertainty in Washington
- Analysts warn these moves could reshape transatlantic defense ties
Spain’s Strategic Break
Spain has formally rejected purchasing the F-35, turning instead to the Eurofighter Typhoon and the joint Franco-German Future Combat Air System program. Madrid’s decision reflects a wider push within Europe to reduce dependency on U.S. military hardware. Officials pointed to the need for strategic autonomy and distrust over U.S. defense commitments as factors behind the move.
The shift aligns with broader European Union efforts to bolster its industrial base and shield key defense capabilities from foreign dependency. Spain’s defense ministry emphasized that collaborating with European partners not only secures interoperability within the continent but also strengthens political cohesion at a time of shifting U.S. policy.
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Switzerland and Canada’s Doubts
Switzerland, which had committed to purchasing 36 F-35As in a $7.2 billion package, is now reconsidering the scope of its order. Inflation and tariffs have driven projected costs more than $1.6 billion over budget, and attempts to negotiate a fixed-price guarantee with U.S. suppliers have failed. Swiss officials signaled that reducing the order or reevaluating procurement altogether remains under active discussion.
Canada, meanwhile, is exploring closer cooperation with Nordic allies on air defense, looking at Saab’s Gripen as a potential alternative. Ottawa has justified this review as part of a broader realignment toward Arctic security priorities, where industrial collaboration with regional partners may carry more political and operational benefits than reliance on U.S. defense systems.
Portugal and the Trust Factor
Portugal has cooled on the idea of replacing its F-16 fleet with F-35s. Political leaders in Lisbon cited unpredictability in U.S. defense policy as a key reason for hesitation. Concerns center not only on cost but also on reliability of supply and operational independence in a scenario where U.S. export restrictions could affect availability of parts and software updates.
This hesitation mirrors similar debates across Europe, where governments are increasingly questioning whether reliance on U.S. fighter platforms exposes them to vulnerabilities in times of political divergence. By investing in European alternatives, Portugal and others aim to insulate their defense posture from sudden policy swings in Washington.
Implications for NATO Cohesion
The F-35 was long intended to serve as a unifying platform across NATO, providing interoperability and shared logistics among allied air forces. However, the withdrawal or hesitation of multiple partners threatens to fracture this vision. With Spain, Switzerland, Canada, and Portugal all stepping back in varying degrees, NATO could see a more fragmented aerial fleet in the coming decade.
Analysts note that this fragmentation risks undermining the cost-efficiency of joint operations and reducing the strategic coherence of allied air defense. At the same time, it accelerates momentum for European-led defense initiatives, signaling that the transatlantic defense industrial balance may tilt further away from the United States in the years to come.
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