Canada has begun actively searching for alternatives to the American F-35 fighter jets, which is connected with the uncertainty of the foreign policy course of the US President Donald Trump. This was announced by the country's Defense Minister Bill Blair in an interview with the CBC television channel, emphasizing that Ottawa is reviewing its plans to purchase these aircraft. The statement was made against the backdrop of tense relations with Washington caused by Trump's introduction of 25-percent tariffs on Canadian goods and his repeated threats of economic annexation of Canada. Blair noted that the F-35 was previously considered the optimal choice for the Royal Canadian Air Force, but now the government is exploring other options to reduce dependence on American technology and supplies.

The $88 billion purchase of 35 F-19A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin was approved in June 2023 after years of discussions. The first 16 aircraft are scheduled to arrive in 2026, and Canada has already paid for them. However, Blair explained that Prime Minister Mark Carney had instructed him to evaluate the possibility of producing the jets domestically or buying them from European manufacturers. The minister stressed that the decision would depend on strategic and economic factors, including the ability to maintain and modernize the aircraft independently.

Current open-source data confirms Canada’s seriousness. In March 2025, Aviation Week reported that Ottawa was already in talks with European companies such as Saab, which offers the Gripen E, and Dassault Aviation with its Rafale. These aircraft are seen as potential replacements for the F-35, despite their lack of stealth technology inherent in the American model. Experts note that abandoning the F-35 could complicate Canada’s participation in the NORAD program, where interoperability with the United States is important, but growing mistrust of Trump’s policies is pushing the country to diversify its military purchases. Against this backdrop, Portugal also announced on March 13 that it was reviewing plans to purchase the F-35, citing the risks of dependence on American software updates. In Canada, according to the National Post, there are already calls to direct defense spending to domestic production, which could strengthen the national industry. Ottawa’s final decision will be an important indicator of its strategy in the face of global instability.