Allied Nations Cancel F-35 Purchases Amid U.S. Policy Concerns

Several NATO allies, including Portugal and Canada, are reconsidering their plans to purchase the F-35 fighter jet due to concerns over U.S. foreign policy and the aircraft's high costs and reliability issues. Portugal's defense minister cited geopolitical dynamics, particularly the U.S. stance on NATO, as a reason for pausing its F-35 acquisition to replace aging F-16s. Canada is also exploring alternative options for its planned purchase of 88 F-35s, driven by concerns about strategic self-reliance and domestic assembly. The F-35 program, projected to cost $2 trillion, has faced criticism for falling short of expectations, with reliability issues and increased maintenance costs. This situation raises alarms about operational sovereignty as allies depend on U.S.-controlled technology, prompting many nations to seek greater defense autonomy. The shifts in procurement reflect a broader trend among allied nations to balance military modernization with maintaining independent defense capabilities.