Canada Considers Canceling $19 Billion F-35 Purchase Amid Tensions with the U.S.
Defense Minister Bill Blair indicates potential shifts towards European alternatives following conflicts with the Trump administration.
Canada is reviewing its commitment to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States, a deal valued at approximately $19 billion.
Bill Blair, Canada's Defense Minister, stated on Friday that the new cabinet is actively exploring alternative options for stealth aircraft and is engaging in discussions with rival aircraft manufacturers.
This consideration follows similar moves by Portugal, as countries reassess their defense procurement in light of U.S. political dynamics under President Donald Trump.
Blair's announcement comes in the context of several public disputes between Canada and the Trump administration, encompassing trade tariffs and annexation threats since Trump's inauguration in January.
Notably, a 25% tariff on certain Canadian goods was enacted on March 12, prompting scrutiny from Canadian lawmakers and the public regarding the implications of defense procurement from the U.S.
Growing public sentiment in Canada appears to favor halting the F-35 acquisition, with increasing calls to consider sourcing fighter jets from other countries instead of relying on U.S. manufacturing and maintenance.
The contract for F-35s was initially established under the former Liberal government in June 2023, with Lockheed Martin tasked as the supplier, from which Canada ordered 88 aircraft.
The country has already made payments for the first 16 jets expected to arrive by early next year, but the procurement of the remaining 72 jets has now come into question.
In his comments, Blair noted the possibility that the remainder of the new fleet might be sourced from European suppliers, citing the Swedish-made Saab Gripen as a contender, which had ranked second in the earlier competitive bidding process for this procurement.
"The Prime Minister has asked me to go and look into these matters and to engage with other sources, particularly where there is a possibility of assembling these fighters in Canada," stated Blair.
In a related development earlier this week, Portugal announced a decision not to purchase American-made F-35 bombers.
Despite the Portuguese Air Force's recommendation to upgrade from existing F-16s to F-35s, their defense minister highlighted the need to consider the "reliability of their allies" when making such decisions.
This incident represents one of the early examples of how President Trump's policies may have obstructed lucrative arms deals for the U.S.
Bill Blair, Canada's Defense Minister, stated on Friday that the new cabinet is actively exploring alternative options for stealth aircraft and is engaging in discussions with rival aircraft manufacturers.
This consideration follows similar moves by Portugal, as countries reassess their defense procurement in light of U.S. political dynamics under President Donald Trump.
Blair's announcement comes in the context of several public disputes between Canada and the Trump administration, encompassing trade tariffs and annexation threats since Trump's inauguration in January.
Notably, a 25% tariff on certain Canadian goods was enacted on March 12, prompting scrutiny from Canadian lawmakers and the public regarding the implications of defense procurement from the U.S.
Growing public sentiment in Canada appears to favor halting the F-35 acquisition, with increasing calls to consider sourcing fighter jets from other countries instead of relying on U.S. manufacturing and maintenance.
The contract for F-35s was initially established under the former Liberal government in June 2023, with Lockheed Martin tasked as the supplier, from which Canada ordered 88 aircraft.
The country has already made payments for the first 16 jets expected to arrive by early next year, but the procurement of the remaining 72 jets has now come into question.
In his comments, Blair noted the possibility that the remainder of the new fleet might be sourced from European suppliers, citing the Swedish-made Saab Gripen as a contender, which had ranked second in the earlier competitive bidding process for this procurement.
"The Prime Minister has asked me to go and look into these matters and to engage with other sources, particularly where there is a possibility of assembling these fighters in Canada," stated Blair.
In a related development earlier this week, Portugal announced a decision not to purchase American-made F-35 bombers.
Despite the Portuguese Air Force's recommendation to upgrade from existing F-16s to F-35s, their defense minister highlighted the need to consider the "reliability of their allies" when making such decisions.
This incident represents one of the early examples of how President Trump's policies may have obstructed lucrative arms deals for the U.S.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
