The F-35 fighter jet, developed by Lockheed Martin, was once unrivaled in the international arms market, winning competitions almost universally. Despite early development struggles and budget overruns, its capabilities made it the favored frontline fighter for many nations. Recent shifts, however, have led countries like Portugal and Canada to reconsider their purchases, not due to performance issues but because of political uncertainties linked to the U.S. leadership under Donald Trump. This erosion of trust among allies raises questions about the future of the F-35's global sales.
"I can't think of a competition that it entered in Europe that it didn't win," says Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
"Canada is one of our closest allies, and they have fought with us. They have died with us," says Cynthia Cook, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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.
18 years after its first flight, more than 1,000 F-35s are in operation in 20 countries.
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