Canada’s news Prime Minister Mark Carney has directed their defense ministry to review an agreement to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets, signed by the previous Justin Trudeau administration, and determine if the deal is the ‘best investment’ for Canada.
“Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the defense ministry to determine if the F-35 contract, as it stands, is the best investment for Canada, and if there are other options that could better meet Canada’s needs,” ministry spokesperson Laurent de Casanove said in a statement, according to news agency AFP.
The statement clarified that the F-35 agreement with the has not been revoked.
“The deal has not been cancelled, but we need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces,” it stated.
In January 2023, the Trudeau administration signed a contract with US defense giant Lockheed Martin to purchase 88 F-35s for CAD 19 billion (USD 13.2 billion).
Ottawa has already paid for a first shipment of 16 F-35s, set for delivery early next year.
Carney’s move, one of his first official acts since taking office on Friday, came two days after Portugal said it was re-examining a possible purchase of the F-35 fighters amid rising international anger over the tariff war US President Donald Trump has launched and his wavering support for the Atlantic alliance.
As for Canada, Trump rattled America’s northern neighbour by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian products before agreeing to suspend levies on Canadian exports covered by a North American trade pact.
The Republican leader has also infuriated Canadians by repeatedly suggesting their country become the ’51st US state.’
