Canada, which was considering the purchase of U.S.-made fighter jets F-35, has decided to reassess whether to proceed with the purchase.
AFP, Bloomberg News, and others reported on the 15th (local time) that "Mark Carney, the new Prime Minister of Canada, instructed Defense Minister Bill Blair the previous day to examine whether the F-35 contract is the best investment for Canada and if there are better options that meet Canada's needs."
Canada established a contract to acquire 88 F-35s worth 19 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 12.2 trillion won) while proceeding with the fighter jet replacement process in 2023. Canada has already paid the amount corresponding to the 16 jets it is set to receive next year.
The Ministry of National Defense of Canada stated that it is not a cancellation of the contract in response to Prime Minister Carney's directive, but indicated that it must reconfirm that it is in the best interest of the Royal Canadian Air Force considering the changing environment.
Canada's reassessment of the F-35 fighter jet purchase is analyzed as a warning to U.S. President Donald Trump as tensions with the United States escalate. The Trump administration recently announced a plan to apply a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, escalating the trade dispute.
In response, Canada is imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. It also requested dispute consultations against the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Canada is not the only country reconsidering the purchase of U.S.-made fighter jets. Portugal has also reportedly postponed its F-35 purchase plan on the 14th, mentioning the possibility of changes in relations with the United States.