Thursday, May 29, 2025

Latest

Trump Unpredictability Leads Portugal to Reconsider €5.5 Billion F-35 Purchase

Portugal may back out of its planned €5.5 billion purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets, with its defense minister citing concerns about the unpredictability of the Trump administration’s policies as a key factor in their decision.

Outgoing Defense Minister Nuno Melo told Portuguese media outlet Público that although the Portuguese Air Force recommended purchasing Lockheed Martin F-35s, recent US positions within NATO have raised serious concerns.

“The F-16s are at the end of their lifecycle and we will have to think about how to replace them. However, we cannot ignore the geopolitical environment in our choices,” Melo said. “The predictability of our allies is a greater asset to take into account.”

Portuguese officials worry about potential US restrictions on foreign-operated F-35s, particularly the withholding of software updates and spare parts essential for optimal performance and security. These limitations could prevent Portugal from fully utilizing the aircraft if US approval isn’t granted.

Portugal had initially planned a two-decade transition to the F-35 with an allocated budget of €5.5 billion. Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves, had previously confirmed the transition from F-16s to F-35s had already begun.

When asked specifically about the Dassault Rafale as an alternative, Melo said it “was not a discussion” for their interview. Observers believe Portugal will likely consider other European-produced aircraft such as the Saab Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon.


Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Leave a Reply

Video Articles

How To Profit From $3300 Gold? An Inside Look At A Massive 300,000 Oz Project | Martino De Ciccio

We’re At The Start of a Great Silver Boom | Ross McElroy & Andy Bowering – Apollo Silver Corp

Equinox Gold Q1 Earnings: When Everything Goes Wrong

Recommended

Sterling Metals Hits 0.21% Copper Over 482.8 Metres In First Drilling At Soo Copper project

First Majestic Makes Second Major Discovery At Santa Elena In Just A Year

Related News

Judge Halts Federal Worker Buyout Program Hours Before Deadline

3% of the federal workforce had accepted the offer, still short of the White House's...
Friday, February 7, 2025, 10:34:00 AM

Elon Musk’s Federal Deals Spark Conflict-of-Interest Fury

Elon Musk’s myriad corporate interests—Tesla, SpaceX, X, xAI, Neuralink, Starlink, and the Boring Company—have already...

Sunday, February 23, 2025, 01:20:04 PM

Galaxy’s Novogratz Sees Bumps for Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Plan

A proposed national Bitcoin reserve, a cornerstone of President-elect Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency agenda, faces significant...

Thursday, November 14, 2024, 01:12:00 PM

Russia’s Putin Highlights Flaws in US Politics Amid Trump’s Legal Woes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has critiqued the various criminal charges against former US President Donald...

Friday, September 15, 2023, 07:37:00 AM

Trump Charges $5 Million for Private Meetings at Mar-a-Lago

Wealthy business figures pay between $1 million and $5 million for various levels of access...

Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 07:21:00 AM