Spain has canceled its plan to acquire U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, which was included in the 2023 budget. The decision is attributed to a shift in defense spending toward European-centered projects. According to a report by El País, citing unnamed government sources, the Spanish government has abandoned its intention to procure the F-35 aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin.
Spain had allocated €6.25 billion for new fighter jet acquisitions in 2023. By 2025, the country plans to direct a significant portion of its €10.5 billion defense budget toward collaborative European programs. This shift complicates the procurement of U.S.-made platforms.
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had stated earlier in the year that defense spending should reach NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. However, his refusal at a June summit to raise that percentage to 5% drew criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump sharply criticized Sanchez’s stance and threatened to impose additional tariffs on Spanish goods.
As of now, neither the Spanish Ministry of Defense nor Lockheed Martin has issued an official statement regarding the matter.
