United States' F-35 fighter jet sales to Spain denied by Spanish authorities
In a significant shift in defense spending, Spain has decided to reject the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and instead invest in European defense industry projects. This decision, announced by the Spanish government, is primarily driven by political and strategic reasons [1][2][3][4].
During Donald Trump's presidency, political tensions arose over NATO defense spending demands and fears of U.S. influence via the F-35's software and logistics control. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly opposed increasing NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP as requested by Trump, favouring a more measured 2.1% GDP budget that focuses on European cooperation [2][3].
The rejection of the F-35 is not a result of any issues with the U.S. company Lockheed Martin, but rather a strategic choice to bolster European defense industrial independence. Spain aims to increase its Eurofighter fleet from current levels to 115 jets, with 25 new deliveries planned between 2026 and 2030, and to focus on the future FCAS program, which targets development of a sixth-generation fighter jet by 2040 [1][2][4].
The FCAS project, another European initiative, is another potential alternative for fighter aircraft that Spain is considering. This move avoids the political risks associated with reliance on the U.S.-controlled F-35 program and aligns with broader European ambitions for defense sovereignty [1][2][4].
It's worth noting that Spain's defense spending will rise to two percent of GDP this year, but the additional 10.5 billion euros that was earlier planned for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets will not be used for this purpose [5].
This decision has not been made in response to the NATO defense spending target increase. Initially, Spain agreed to NATO's two percent GDP defense spending target, but later announced it would not meet the new target set in June, which was a raise to 3.5 percent and an additional 1.5 percent for defense-relevant infrastructure spending [6].
In response to Spain's decision, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Spanish products. However, the Ministry of Defense in Madrid confirmed this decision in a report by the Spanish newspaper "El País" [7].
In conclusion, Spain's rejection of the F-35 is grounded in political disagreements with the U.S. administration, a strategic choice to bolster European defense industrial independence, and concerns about technology and operational control embedded in the F-35 program. The European alternatives under consideration are the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) [1][2][4].
The Commission has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, thus leaving the Spanish workers involved in the Eurofighter Typhoon and Future Combat Air System (FCAS) projects potentially vulnerable. Despite Spain's increased interest in sports, these industrial projects demand a significant portion of the country's resources, making it imperative for the Commission to prioritize worker safety in these sectors.
