Let’s stop peddling the clickbait nonsense. Planning to buy isn’t cancelling. There’s no contract. The F16 fleet is ageing and needs replacing. With EU funds directed towards EU defence companies and US unpredictability, makes sense to look elsewhere for aircrafts.
Straight from the horse’s mouth:
"The Air Force wants this replacement to be made by F-35s, which are American-made planes. What you are saying is that, due to the change in US foreign policy, it is less likely that Portugal will replace the F-16s with an American aircraft?
The world has already changed. There were elections in the USA, there was a position in relation to NATO and the world, affirmed by the Secretary of Defense and by the President of the USA himself, which also has to be taken into account in Europe and with regard to Portugal. And this ally of ours, which for decades has always been predictable, may bring limitations in use, maintenance, components, everything that has to do with ensuring that aircraft will be operational and will be used in all kinds of scenarios.
And could the replacement go through aircraft, for example, French?
Let’s stop peddling the clickbait nonsense. Planning to buy isn’t cancelling. There’s no contract. The F16 fleet is ageing and needs replacing. With EU funds directed towards EU defence companies and US unpredictability, makes sense to look elsewhere for aircrafts.
Straight from the horse’s mouth:
"The Air Force wants this replacement to be made by F-35s, which are American-made planes. What you are saying is that, due to the change in US foreign policy, it is less likely that Portugal will replace the F-16s with an American aircraft?
The world has already changed. There were elections in the USA, there was a position in relation to NATO and the world, affirmed by the Secretary of Defense and by the President of the USA himself, which also has to be taken into account in Europe and with regard to Portugal. And this ally of ours, which for decades has always been predictable, may bring limitations in use, maintenance, components, everything that has to do with ensuring that aircraft will be operational and will be used in all kinds of scenarios.
And could the replacement go through aircraft, for example, French?
I will not have this discussion here. "
https://www.publico.pt/2025/03/13/politica/entrevista/nuno-melo-afasta-compra-f35-eua-causa-trump-mundo-ja-mudou-2125727