Portugal reconsiders the purchase of the F-35 due to the turn in US foreign policy

In recent days, there have been rumors about the implications of Trump's shift in US foreign policy regarding defense.

Portugal confirms that it has begun its transition to the F-35 and indicates bad news for Spain
The Spanish Air Force, the F-35 and the characteristics of three possible alternatives

Some of those rumors focused on the F-35, which is currently the star product of the US military industry. There have been rumors about the possibility of Germany backing out of the purchase of this aircraft, but ultimately, Portugal is the first country to reconsider the purchase of this stealth fighter.

Nuno Melo: "There are several options that should be considered"

This Thursday, the Portuguese newspaper Publico.pt published an interview with Defense Minister Nuno Melo, a member of the Democratic Alliance (AD) coalition. Asked whether the Portuguese government will approve the purchase of F-35 aircraft, Melo replied:

The F-16s are at the end of their lifecycle, and we'll have to consider replacing them. However, in our choices, we cannot remain oblivious to the geopolitical environment. The recent position of the United States, within NATO and on the international geostrategic level, must make us consider the best options, because the predictability of our allies is a greater good to consider. We have to believe that, under all circumstances, these allies will be on our side. There are several options to consider, especially in the context of European production and also considering the return these options may have on the Portuguese economy.

In the interview, Melo was asked whether Portugal is less likely to replace the F-16s with American aircraft, to which the minister stated the following:

The world has already changed. There were elections in the US, there was a position regarding NATO and the world, expressed by the Secretary of Defense and by the US president himself, which must also be taken into account in Europe and with regard to Portugal. And this ally of ours, which has always been predictable over the decades, could bring limitations on use, maintenance, components, and everything related to ensuring that the aircraft will be operational and used in all types of scenarios.

By April 2024, the transition from the F-16 to the F-35 had already begun

Recall that Portugal currently has 28 F-16 fighters in operation. In April 2024, the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves, confirmed that the transition process to the F-35 had already begun, noting that the acquisition of the new fighters would cost 5.5 billion, to be paid over a period of 20 years. The Portuguese Air Force was scheduled to receive the fighters seven years after confirming their acquisition.

The European alternatives that Portugal could consider

Despite General Cartaxo's announcement, the acquisition of the F-35 had not yet been confirmed by the Portuguese government. Nuno Melo's statements confirm that the announced replacement of the Portuguese F-16s with the F-35 could be canceled. Although there are no other Western stealth fighters on the market, Portugal could consider purchasing European fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the French Dassault Rafale, or the Swedish Saab 39 Gripen. Asked whether the Portuguese government might be considering the purchase of French aircraft, Melo stated: "I'm not going to have this discussion here."