Trump Shakes Up F-35 Program, But Global Allies Still Hold the Line
So, let’s talk about what’s been buzzing in the defense world lately—the F-35 Lightning II program. It’s one of the most advanced, and certainly the most expensive, weapons projects out there. But recently, it’s been caught in a political storm, stirred up once again by none other than Donald Trump. Despite the noise, though, most U.S. allies are still holding steady. They're not jumping ship just yet.
Trump’s approach to international defense relations—especially with Europe—has always been a bit turbulent. His latest rhetoric and actions have made a few NATO allies uneasy about their involvement with the F-35. Canada and Portugal, in particular, have started to voice second thoughts about their future with the stealth jet. Canada is an original member of the program and has jets coming as early as next year. Still, with mounting tensions over tariffs and diplomatic uncertainty, Ottawa is now “reviewing” its options. Portugal hasn’t signed a contract yet but is openly considering alternatives like Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen.
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Now here’s where it gets tricky. The Gripen, despite being Sweden’s pride, runs on an American-made engine. So even if countries like Portugal try to dodge U.S. politics by buying Swedish, they’re still tethered to U.S. policy. It’s not just about who builds the plane, but who controls the parts, the permits, and the long-term maintenance.
And yet, while a few countries are looking around, the majority of F-35 customers are staying committed. The UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and Germany have all reaffirmed their trust in the platform and their desire to maintain close defense ties with the U.S. For many of them, backing out now just doesn’t make sense. They’ve already invested billions into the jets, into training, into support systems. Switching to a different aircraft would mean scrapping years of work and starting over.
There’s also the tech factor. The F-35 is unmatched when it comes to fifth-generation capabilities. From stealth and sensors to data integration and multirole combat flexibility, it’s in a league of its own. Until sixth-generation fighters like the F-47 or other multinational projects actually hit the skies—which could be years away—the F-35 remains the gold standard.
So yeah, Trump might be rattling the cage, and a few feathers are being ruffled in NATO circles. But at the end of the day, when it comes to sheer combat performance and global defense strategy, the F-35 isn’t going anywhere. Not yet, anyway. The drama may continue, especially with political shifts and elections looming, but for now, the jet that’s meant to rule the skies still has most of its loyal customers buckled in for the ride.
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