Stop the F-35 from the USA: yes from Spain, pressure on the Swiss government. Italy looks at 25 new aircraft

Tensions with the US, not least the tariffs factor, have prompted some countries to think about the possibility of reviewing the purchase of American fighter jets. Donald Trump's first months in the White House have convinced them to rethink their defence and security strategies. The latest was the Spanish government. Madrid has decided to focus on European fighters for the renewal of its air force, choosing the Eurofighter and the future Fcas system, thus excluding the purchase of the US F-35, fifth-generation fighters. The indiscretion relaunched by the newspaper El Pais was officially confirmed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence. 'Spain's choice is between the current Eurofighter and the next Fcas,' the ministry explained to Afp, confirming the Madrid daily's report that Pedro Sánchez's government considers the purchase of the F-35 'incompatible' with the strategy of allocating 85% of the new defence funds to European equipment. This decision could increase tensions with the United States, already exacerbated by Sánchez's refusal, during the last NATO summit, to adhere to President Donald Trump's demand to raise military spending to 5% of GDP. Instead, Madrid confirmed the target of 2% for 2025. In the 2023 budget, Spain had allocated EUR 6.25 billion to replace the Navy's Harrier fighters and the Air Force's F-18s. According to earlier sources, the purchase of 50 F-35s was under discussion. The Fcas programme, which aims to develop a new European air combat system, involves Germany, France and Spain, with Dassault Aviation, Airbus and the Spanish company Indra among the main industrial players. The Spanish Defence Ministry spoke of a 'question of sovereignty'.

The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered, in mid-March 2025, a review of the purchase of a batch of 88 F-35s, already contracted with Lockheed Martin. However, the contract with Lockheed Martin is currently still active. The first 16 aircraft are already financed and confirmed.

India, on the other hand, denied media reports that it had suspended plans to purchase new weapons and aircraft from the United States in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, and had also cancelled Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's planned trip to Washington in the coming weeks to announce some purchases. The Defence Ministry clarified in a note that 'these are false and fabricated reports. Supplies ordered are proceeding as agreed,' it assured.

No overreaction, but under the surface Switzerland is seething. The 39% maxi-tariffs imposed by Trump, second only to the slap in the face of Brazil and India, have hit the Swiss economy at its heart - medicines, watches, banks, chocolate, cheese and Nespresso capsules - throwing even the historic Alpine stability into chaos. Bern takes refuge in diplomacy, ruling out 'for the time being' any kind of reprisal. Politicians, however, are beginning to lose patience and, starting from the left-wing benches, the front of those who demand a muscular response is growing. The clash is just around the corner: the demand to review, if not even freeze, the purchase of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jets - the emblem of cooperation with Washington - has been raised by the Greens, Social Democrats and even by President Karin Keller-Sutter's Liberals, who are determined to use the more than $9 billion contract as negotiating leverage. A hard line, ready to be debated in parliament in September, rejected by the Swiss leader, who recalled how, without the US contribution, Swiss skies would have 'no air defence'.

The debate touches on the delicate neutrality of the federal government, which still limits military exports to conflict areas, including Ukraine. But the new geopolitical scenario has already prompted the government to veer away, committing to purchase at least 30% of its military supplies from European countries and opening a security dialogue with Brussels. An approach that also extends overseas, with the purchase of 36 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to renew the fleet, coming between 2027 and 2030. A commitment also secured on the mission to Washington by Keller-Sutter in the face-to-face meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.