U.S. allies think twice about buying F-35s in response to Trump's antics

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Why is the list of countries reassessing their F-35 purchases still growing? Because of the lack of international confidence in the American president.

U.S. allies think twice about buying F-35s in response to Trump’s antics
Why is the list of countries reassessing their F-35 purchases still growing? Because of the lack of international confidence in the American president. 👇

www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— (Wee G ) Wake Up Scotland (@chaillich.bsky.social) 2025-08-11T22:20:02.847Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/f-35-fighter-jets-us-allies-switzerland-spain-france-rcna224350

The Trump administration recently let Swiss officials know that the cost of the planes will be more than previously estimated. The White House soon after hit Switzerland with harsh trade tariffs. As Politico reported, the developments are not sitting well in Bern.

An order for 36 F-35 jets may become a casualty of Donald Trump’s trade war against Switzerland as political opposition to the multibillion-franc defense deal surges in Bern.

The backlash follows the U.S. president’s decision to hit Swiss exports with a 39 percent tariff — the highest levied on any developed country and more than double the rate imposed on the European Union.

.....Just as notable is the familiarity of the circumstances. A few days before the Politico report was published on developments in the Swiss capital, Reuters published a related article about a similar issue unfolding roughly 1,000 miles away.

Spain is no longer considering the option of buying U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and is choosing between European-made Eurofighter and the so-called Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a defense ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson was confirming an earlier report by El Pais newspaper that the government had shelved plans to buy the F-35, which is manufactured by U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.

......Usually, when there’s political interest in F-35s, it’s related to Donald Trump and his apparent belief that the airplanes are literally invisible. But as traditional U.S. allies reassess their willingness to purchase the jets, it’s a lot less funny.

New York magazine had a memorable report on this in March:

Not so long ago, the F-35 fighter jet was the hottest ticket in the international arms market. ... Stealthy, supersonic, and able to both dogfight and strike targets on the ground, it’s arguably the most sophisticated weapon in the U.S. arsenal and undeniably the most sought-after. As nation after nation held competitions to choose their next frontline fighter, the F-35 came in and trounced its rivals time and again. ...

But then, earlier this month, something happened. One after another, nations that had signed up for the F-35 started voicing qualms. ... Nothing had changed about the plane’s performance. It’s just that, in the eyes of some international customers, the F-35 can’t fully be trusted anymore because of who is the commander-in-chief.

Five months later, the problem appears to have gotten worse, not better.

[msongs]

1. what did the swiss do to rate such a tariff increase? nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. They pissed trump off somehow

[msongs]

3. oh look they have a woman president. that sums it up nt

[fujiyamasan]

4. This may put them at a disadvantage in the short term

In not having any stealth fighter jets. Currently they don’t really have anything comparable. I don’t think they produce any fifth generation fighter jets. I think the Rafales are 4.5.

They’ve stepped up defense spending so this could force them to develop a true modern stealth fighter sooner, or move toward greater drone production.

It’s a net loss for Lockheed either way.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Allies, in jab at Trump, threaten not to buy F-35s

Countries are questioning their American weapons purchases, in some of their biggest pushback yet to the administration’s tariffs

Politico - Allies, in jab at Trump, threaten not to buy F-35s

Countries are questioning their American weapons purchases, in some of their biggest pushback yet to the administration’s tariffs.

— Lola Gayle (@lolagaylec.bsky.social) 2025-08-14T12:40:27.681Z

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/13/trump-tariffs-allies-f-35-00508201

Allies fed up with Donald Trump’s latest round of punishing tariffs and spending demands are hitting the president where it hurts — his favorite fighter jet.

Spain, in the wake of a row with Washington over NATO’s new 5 percent defense spending goal, ditched its multibillion-dollar purchase of the stealthy F-35 fighter jet. Switzerland, reeling from steep U.S. tariffs, is facing increasing pressure across the political spectrum to drop plans for its own F-35 war planes. And India, frustrated at higher U.S. prices on its goods, has reportedly decided to pause efforts to buy American combat vehicles.

The moves — all made in the past two weeks — show the potential consequences of Trump’s economic actions as they reverberate through allied capitals, forcing governments to reassess their defense ties with the United States. They also reinforce American industry fears that this new form of protectionism will spark retaliation, jeopardize arms sales and chip away at America’s dominance as the globe’s top defense supplier.

While most allies aren’t rushing to pull out of long-planned purchases, the recent actions by the three countries show growing pockets of resistance, and some of the most concrete pushback yet, to Trump’s global trade maneuvers.

The tariffs are “a big middle finger” to allies the U.S. has urged for years to buy American equipment, said Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon official who oversaw Europe and NATO policy. “All of these nations feel bruised by the United States.”