Portugal recently indicated it would likely not be ordering US-made F-35 fighters to replace its aging F-16 fleet. In an interview with Portuguese media outlet Público published on Mar. 13, 2025, Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo dismissed the possibility of ordering the F-35, the cutting-edge US fifth-generation fighter. Among his remarks were:
“However, we cannot ignore the geopolitical environment in our choices. The recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and in the international geostrategic plan, must make us think about the best options, because the predictability of our allies is a greater asset to take into account. We must believe that, in all circumstances, these allies will be on our side.”
This is consistent with other European nations reconsidering their future defense procurements, with the theme being to move away from US weapon systems.
There is a simple explanation for this, that can be summed up in one word: trust. Or more accurately, lack of trust. Lack of trust in the United States of America as a reliable defense partner. In two months, Donald Trump has unraveled the most successful military alliance in world history, one that has kept member nations safe for the 80 years following WWII. It is all but gone now, because the leader of NATO, the United States of America, can no longer be trusted.
Trump’s inconsistent and controversial remarks about NATO include suggesting the U.S. might not uphold its Article V defense commitments to other countries. This is a betrayal of the alliance’s bedrock principle, and a death blow to effective deterrence.
In 2022, Europe and the US were united in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s murderous invasion of Ukraine. Donald Trump flipped that upside down by effectively siding with Russia and denigrating Ukraine. Before any peace negotiations with Russia, President Trump, VP Vance and SECDFEF Hegseth have all advocated Ukraine ceding occupied territory to Russia, and dismissed the possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine. In an effort to squeeze more concessions from Ukraine, Trump halted the deliveries of weapons as well as the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine. It is reported that the US intelligence ghosting included the suspension of US support to Ukrainian F-16 radar jammers, hampering Ukraine’s air defense against Russian missile strikes in Ukraine.
Although Trump has now turned the military aid and intel support back on, one thing that can’t be turned back on is trust. Trust is earned over time through consistent action. Europe no longer trusts America, so why should European countries buy US advanced weapon systems which require US technical support. Trump has proven the US is not a trustworthy partner, even to a besieged ally in a hot war.
Who can blame Portugal for not buying F-35s?
Waipahu Bob 