Spain, Switzerland, India reconsider F-35 purchases amid US tariffs
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US allies are rethinking multibillion-dollar defense deals as Trump’s tariffs strain relations, threatening the F-35 fighter jet’s international sales and raising costs.
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US Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 flies over Russia's Su-57 fighter aircraft, parked at the static display area, on the fourth day of the Aero India 2025, a biennial event, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Frustrated by Trump’s latest tariffs and defense spending demands, key US allies are signaling their discontent by targeting one of his most prized defense programs, the F-35 fighter jet.
In the past two weeks, Spain canceled its plans to acquire the stealth aircraft after a dispute with Washington over NATO’s new 5% defense spending target, while Switzerland, burdened by steep US tariffs, has faced mounting domestic calls to abandon its planned purchase.
Meanwhile, India, unhappy with tariff hikes on its exports, has reportedly paused efforts to buy US combat vehicles.
These moves show how Trump’s protectionist trade policies are reshaping security partnerships. Analysts warn they could jeopardize billions in US arms deals and weaken the country’s position as the world’s top defense supplier.
Tariffs trigger defense retaliation
While most allies are still committed to long-planned purchases, resistance is growing. Speaking to Politico, Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon official for Europe and NATO, described the tariffs as “a big middle finger” to countries long urged to buy American weapons.
The F-35 fighter jet is produced by defense giant Lockheed Martin. As of early 2025, more than 1,100 F-35s have been delivered worldwide, with production running at around 156 units per year. The aircraft’s unit cost varies from $80-83 million for the F-35A to $109 million for the F-35B and $102 million for the F-35C.
The program is a major economic engine, contributing $72 billion annually to the US economy, supporting over 290,000 jobs, and accounting for roughly 25-30% of Lockheed Martin’s total revenue.
European alternatives gain ground
Spain’s decision could redirect billions toward European-made jets, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Franco-German Future Combat Air System. Officials framed the move as a push for industrial sovereignty, stronger European supply chains, and more dependable partners.
In Switzerland, a 2021 referendum approving the purchase of 36 F-35s passed by a slim margin. New tariffs reignited opposition, prompting lawmakers to seek cancellation. The government reaffirmed its intent to proceed but will review the deal before a final decision in November. Officials warn that unresolved US pricing could add as much as $1.6 billion to the total cost.
BREAKING: Spain and Switzerland CANCEL their F-35 fighter jet orders
— ADAM (@AdameMedia) August 9, 2025
Trump calls it “very unfair.”
Swiss leader Balthasar Glättli says: "Those who hurl rocks at us in trade shouldn't expect gifts in return." pic.twitter.com/iQINXZauMn
Other potential buyers, like Portugal, are delaying decisions amid doubts over US reliability. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin noted that the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Belgium have each committed to purchasing more F-35s.
While Trump’s tariff policies are fueling Europe’s push for defense self-sufficiency, many European officials admit that replacing US-made systems will take years.
Meanwhile, in Asia, Reuters reported that India is delaying US arms deals, including Stryker combat vehicles and Javelin missiles, after tariffs on Indian goods were doubled to 50% in response to its Russian oil imports.
White House defends tariff Strategy
The White House insists that Trump’s tariffs strengthen both the US economy and its military industrial base. Spokesperson Kush Desai said Trump’s defense spending push will “generate billions of dollars for American companies.”
Industry experts caution that while losing Spain or Switzerland might not immediately disrupt production, since other buyers could fill the gap, a long-term decline in foreign interest could increase costs across the fleet. The F-35 fighter jet sales program already faces rising expenses, such as Germany’s Büchel Air Base upgrade, which has climbed from $1.5 billion to $2.3 billion.
The F-35 program is heavily employed by "Israel" across West Asia. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli F-35I “Adir” jets have flown over 15,000 operational hours in thousands of sorties, including heavy bombing campaigns that resulted in war crimes in Gaza.
Documented incidents include the July 2024 attack on al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, a designated safe zone, where three 2,000-pound bombs killed 90 Palestinians and injured at least 300. In Lebanon, on September 23, 2024, F-35 strikes killed over 800 people and injured more than 5,000.
Palestine supporters shut down BAE Systems in the UK for being fully complicit in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, as BAE manufactures the bodies of F-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/wrbttDJaBe
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 14, 2025
The jets have also been used in long-range aggressions on Syria, Yemen, and even Iran.
These operations have drawn allegations of war crimes from human rights groups, with over 230 global organizations urging F-35 partner nations to halt arms transfers to "Israel".
Looking forward
Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, told Politico that repairing trust in US defense relations may take years, stating that “even if there’s a new administration… it’s going to take a long time to recover trust. And this is an industry built on trust.”
Thus, the long-term future of F-35 fighter jet sales will ultimately depend on whether Washington can rebuild and maintain strategic trust, not just on the aircraft's advanced capabilities.
