【By Observer News, Qi Qian】According to a report by Politico on August 13, American allies are increasingly angry at the Trump administration's tariffs and threats regarding defense spending, and have decided to strike at Trump's pain point — his favorite fighter jet.

Recently, Spain gave up its $1 billion F-35 fighter jet procurement plan due to a dispute with the United States over the new NATO target of 5% defense spending. Due to the impact of a 39% high tariff from the US, the entire Swiss population is demanding that the government cancel its F-35 aircraft order. It has been reported that India is planning to retaliate against Trump's tariff threats, including suspending the purchase of US weapons.

The report states that these actions have taken place within the past two weeks, showing the potential consequences of the Trump administration's policies, forcing allied countries to reassess their defense relations with the US. This also increases the concern of the US defense industry, that these actions will continue to spread to other countries, threatening US weapon sales, and weakening the US position as the world's largest defense supplier.

Politico pointed out that although most allies have not rushed to exit long-term procurement plans, recent actions by Spain, Switzerland, and India show that countries are questioning their decisions to purchase US weapons, "which is one of the biggest responses to the US tariff policy so far."

Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon official, said that for years, US allies have been urged by the US to buy US equipment. Now, these tariffs are "like giving the middle finger" to them. He pointed out: "All these countries feel hurt by the US."

US F-35 Fighter Jet, Photo

The report states that the F-35 fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin in the US is particularly vulnerable. Its components come from more than 100 suppliers around the world, and large overseas orders help reduce the cost per aircraft. If a country exits or reduces its orders, the cost will rise.

It is known that the total value of Spain and Switzerland's F-35 orders is about $15 billion, each involving dozens of aircraft. Spain's decision not to procure the F-35 may redirect billions of dollars to the "Rafale" fighter jet, as well as the European next-generation flagship fighter project "Future Combat Air System" (FCAS) planned by France and Germany for the 2040s.

Spanish officials said this move was due to industrial sovereignty, strengthening the European supply chain, and seeking more reliable partners.

However, the report believes that this move is politically useful for some European countries. An unnamed senior EU official said that Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez's response catered to the demands of his left-wing supporters. "For Sanchez, playing the victim of Trump is very convenient."

It is reported that in 2021, Switzerland passed a referendum with slightly over 50% support to decide to purchase 36 F-35s. Trump's 39% tariff reignited political debates. Swiss parliamentarians called on the government to cancel the procurement and mentioned that due to the US not determining the final price, the contract faces inflation, rising raw material costs, and tariff factors, which could increase costs by up to $1.6 billion.

The report states that the Swiss government reiterated its plan to purchase the fighter jets on the 13th, but ordered an investigation, and will make a final decision in November.

After Trump announced tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, Indian Prime Minister Modi began retaliating. Modi said on the 7th that he would never sacrifice the interests of Indian farmers, "I am ready. India is ready." According to Indian officials, after Trump imposed additional tariffs, India suspended its plan to purchase US weapons. At the same time, Modi increased interactions with countries such as Russia, China, and Brazil.

Subsequently, a senior official from the Indian Ministry of Defense denied reports that India had suspended discussions with the US on defense procurement. However, Politico pointed out that this incident highlights the intensifying U.S.-India tensions.

In addition, other potential F-35 fighter jet buyers, such as Portugal, have postponed their purchasing decisions due to doubts about the reliability of the US.

In response, the US tried to downplay the impact. Lockheed Martin responded that the UK, Denmark, and Belgium recently announced their intention to purchase F-35s. The company's spokesperson also said, "Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, and this matter should be handled by the US or relevant national governments."

The White House defended the Trump administration's tariff policy, calling it an economic benefit, and noted that pushing NATO to raise defense spending commitments to 5% of GDP would benefit American military manufacturers. A White House spokesperson said, "President Trump's efforts to support the American military industrial base exceed those of any president in the past few decades, including selling American-made weapons to NATO allies, which will bring billions of dollars in revenue for American companies."

An unnamed former Pentagon official said that the cancellation of orders from Spain and Switzerland has little immediate impact on the production line, as these planes will not be delivered for more than a year, and other customers can easily fill the gap. However, the official warned that if foreign buyers continue to reduce, it may increase the cost and price of the entire fleet.

At the same time, the Trump administration's tariff threat is pushing Europe's "European manufacturing" weapons ambitions.

The impact may not be limited to Europe. It is reported that there are weapons deals worth billions of dollars in the US's foreign military sales pipeline to India, and India's withdrawal will pose challenges to the US defense industry. Frank Kendall, former US Air Force Secretary, said, "We spent more than a decade strengthening relations with India. Imposing such high tariffs on India will have a very negative impact on bilateral relations."

Richard Abrafia, Managing Director of AeroDynamic Advisory, a US aviation consulting firm, said, "Even if the US welcomes a new government in the future, whether it is a Republican or Democratic government, it will take a long time to recover from these serious damages. Because this industry is built on trust."

This article is an exclusive article by Observer News, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538385492841169427/

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