The Portuguese government resigned to acquisition modern F-35 fighters due to the unpredictability of Donald Trump's presidency. The defence Minister there fears that the American administration may block access to updates or parts of interchangeable aircraft. “We request to think about better options,” he said.
When asked in an interview with journalists Radio Renascenca and the paper “Publico” about the modernization of the army, the head of Portuguese MON Nuno Melo stated that the planned replacement of obsolete F-16 fighters for modern American F-35, will not happen due to the fact that in the current geopolitical situation This is not the ‘best option’.
– The last U.S. position in NATO and global geostrategic context forces us to consider the best options said the Minister.
SEE: The strong words of Donald Trump. "To mobilise European countries"
Minister of Syntaxes for Cooperation with Europe. We must believe that under all circumstances the allies will be on our side. respective options should be considered, especially in the context of European production He said.
Portugal will not buy F-35 from the US. Trump's Unpredictability Problem
Mr Melo stressed that the Portuguese authorities were primarily afraid predictability.
– The planet has changed... And this ally of ours, who for decades has always been predictable, can introduce restrictions on use, maintenance, components and all that involves ensuring that the aircraft will be efficient and utilized in different scenarios," he stated.
SEE: A dispute over Europe's military potential. “You tell stories”
Despite this, the Minister stressed that Portugal She will proceed to work with Washington as part of the North Atlantic Alliance.
– The United States is simply a fundamental NATO ally, which provides peace in Europe since the end of planet War II and which we Europeans have a work to defend and value – he said.
SEE: The east Shield is an EU flagship project. Resolution on strengthening Europe's defence
However, he said that “it does not relieve us of the work to track geopolitical changes and public statements from different leaders and decision-making on this basis."
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