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

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

08/13/2025 06:15 PM EDT


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.

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

[Gimpyknee]

1. Headline by Politico is Misleading

Spain has pulled out of purchase of F-35 fighter jets, Switzerland is under pressure to drop plans to do so, and India has paused buying of American combat vehicles, not F-35 fighter jets.

[Torchlight]

12. I think you're confused

[Javaman]

2. it would be great if one of these nations played the same game as the orange asshole and said...

well now, because of these tariffs, we can no longer afford to buy the jets. LOL

[Baitball Blogger]

3. What US companies will be hurt by this?

[mwmisses4289]

4. Boeing springs to mind.

Lockheed-Martin? Do they still exist? There are others, but those are the two that immediately came to mind.

[Gimpyknee]

9. Not Boeing

Lockheed-Martin is the prime contractor. Pratt & Whitney makes the engine. Northrop Grumman provides the center fuselage.

[IronLionZion]

8. Lockheed Martin is prime on F-35, plus Northrop Grumman and BAE systems

There are other similar defense contractors who make the other combat vehicles. Oshkosh makes MRAP vehicles for example.

[MadameButterfly]

5. Anyone buying US arms will depend on us

for parts and maintenance down the road. They will be training their military to our technology.

Why would they want their security to depend on Trump who could with-hold, raise tarriffs, require fealty, or whatever on a whim?
We may lose the arms market permanently. I wonder how many industries supply our arms manufacturers? The ramifications could be huge.

[Shipwack]

14. Additionally...

It’s even money that there are software “kill switches” installed on any complex arms we sell. If it is done for tractors and trains, it is probably done for arms.

Of course it might not be necessary, as you pointed out. High tech vehicles and weapons need frequent preventative maintenance, and parts will quickly run out.

[BidenRocks]

16. You saved me some typing.

[twodogsbarking]

6. It took $1.5 trillion to develop. No sheet.

[SheLiberal]

7. Lockheed Martin is nervous

Have family that work for Lockheed and these cancellations have already caused concern. and could lead to layoffs. I know many of the people at this company voted for this mess I hope they are happy dragging us all down with them.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Oh, yes. I know a few and they are hardcore right-wingers.

Last edited Thu Aug 14, 2025, 03:47 PM - Edit history (1)

If any of them lose their jobs over this, I imagine the FAFO will be so bad that they won't be showing their faces at any social events. But I could be wrong. Maybe they'll figure a way to blame it on Biden?

[FakeNoose]

11. Oh well, maybe the Allies who buy our stuff will start charging tariffs

Lockheed would be happy to pay tariffs, I'm sure. One hand washes the other.

[OverBurn]

20. The tariffs on steel, aluminum, titanium?, etc.. has to hurt too. I can see no good from any tariffs, ever.

Like you said, they voted for this shit.

[Bayard]

13. Jab harder

The only way trump understands, or cares, about the results of his actions is to hit him as hard as possible over the head. With a ball bat.

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. In Canada here, there was debate even before our contract to purchase

Between the Saab Gripen, and the F-35
Both have cons and pros.
The Gripen is cheaper and is built for northern climates, and they offered to set up a manufacturing plant in Canada to employ workers to build them here. it is lighter and more manoeuvrable.

The F-35 is heavy because of its ability to support more heavy weaponry. But the F-35 would work better to mesh with the US for NORAD exercises. Also uses the very latest in computer tech. But because of all its many capabilities the working out of all the bugs has taken a long time and increased the price. Also the maintenance of the aircraft is enormous.

One concern here is that there is an "off switch" built in that any POTUS can order at any time. Obvious reason is that it prevents a country from using them against the US. In normal times, without a narcissistic criminal in the WH, this was no problem. Now, with a man-baby snowflake who can lash out unpredictably at any time he feels slighted, it raises concerns

I think there was a lot of pressure from the US to sign a contract for the F-35s. But now I hope they start looking at the Gripen again. It makes way more sense.

[3825-87867]

17. Trump doesn't care!

If OUR allies won't buy, he will arrange to get them to Putin...probably thru Qatar, the Saudis or someone else as bad. He only cares about the money for himself and family and donors.
If our companies threaten to blackball him, he'll nationalize the industry. Although I really think that's on the table for later this year.

[Duppers]

23. Good points

The a-hole should not be trusted.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. 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.

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.

[swong19104]

19. The present Ukraine/Russia war

is demonstrating that million-dollar jets are a waste of money and resource. For the same million dollars, they can build tens of thousands of drone vehicles, which are all so much more difficult to detect and destroy. While each drone might not be able to carry a large payload, they are certainly capable of destroying legacy weaponry, such as fighter jets, bomber jets, tanks, and artillery batteries. They won't be able to destroy an aircraft carrier, but enough of them can get inside the hangars where the jets are kept and explode there to destroy the jets, the elevators and other parts to render the carrier useless.

[Duppers]

24. Totally agree

[JPK]

21. Al the countries that have F-35's in their current inventory should should fly them over to the US and park them.

Then leave and fly back commercial airlines. In real estate it's called jingle keys. Pardon me, jingle mail.

[wolfie001]

22. Didn't the republiCONS install shut-off switches?

Don't buy any American arms while the fat orange imbecile is still in the WH.