Portugal’s Defense Minister, Nuno Melo, announced that the country was excluding the purchase of F-35 fighters, citing concerns over the unpredictability of U.S. policies and the current geopolitical climate.

Poder Aéreo reported on this.

Melo emphasized that although the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets were approaching the end of their service life, it was essential to assess options that ensured greater predictability and operational safety.

He noted that, as an alternative to purchasing F-35s, European-made combat aircraft were under consideration.

The minister highlighted that the United States’ current position on NATO cooperation and the broader international geostrategic landscape called for careful consideration of the most effective options to ensure Portugal‘s defense.

He emphasized that the predictability of the allies was a crucial factor in the decision-making process regarding the replacement of combat aircraft.

The Defense Minister did not specify which European aircraft were under consideration. However, he suggested that among the options explored by the Portuguese government were French Rafale fighter aircraft.

These statements reflect a strategic reassessment of Portugal’s cooperation and military acquisitions, aimed at ensuring national sovereignty and the effectiveness of its armed forces.

It is worth noting that among the closest U.S. allies who are the customers and operators of the F-35, there are concerns about the potential for their fighter jets to be “turned off” in the event of a conflict with Washington.

This is related to the radical shift in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump.

In April of last year, the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force announced the country’s plan to purchase American F-35 fighter jets to modernize its fleet. Portugal aimed to invest €5.5 billion over the next 20 years to transition to this new generation of aircraft.

Currently, the Portuguese Air Force operates a fleet of 28 F-16AM/BM fighter jets, which have been modernized under the MLU (Mid-Life Update) program.