Canada could cancel its F-35 order to the US

Canada is reconsidering the purchase of F-35 aircraft from the United States, after Defense Minister Bill Blair indicated that the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, asked him to explore possible alternatives to the contract, suggesting a potential cancellation of the agreement.

Concluded in January 2023, the contract provides for the delivery of 88 F-35s to Canada by 2032 for an amount of 19 billion dollars. Canada is currently re-evaluating this agreement, concerned about the reliability of the United States as an ally and recent infringements on its sovereignty by the Trump administration.

A recent concern expressed by some observers focuses on the potential ability of the United States to exercise remote control over the F-35s, particularly through the ALIS (Autonomic Logistics Information System) and its replacement, ODIN (Operational Data Integrated Network).

These digital platforms manage the operations and maintenance of the F-35s, but they raise significant concerns regarding the possibility for the United States to restrict or even completely disable the capabilities of the aircraft delivered to their allies.

However, official sources, including the manufacturer Lockheed Martin, have denied the existence of a “kill switch” that would allow F-35s to be disabled remotely.

The reliability of the United States as an ally has recently come into question due to the actions of the Trump administration, particularly its trade war against historical partners and its controversial positions regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump notably displayed a more conciliatory stance towards Russia, temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine, and engaged in direct negotiations with Vladimir Putin, all while publicly humiliating President Zelensky at the White House, under the gaze of the international community.

This political shift has raised concerns among European and Canadian allies, who fear a weakening of NATO and a questioning of American commitments to collective defense. Many are now calling for strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in defense, independently from the United States.

In Canada, these issues fuel a debate on the continued acquisition of the F-35s. Authorities are examining the possible consequences on national sovereignty and the country’s ability to maintain an autonomous defense force, particularly in the face of Trump’s trade war threats and his offensive remarks about annexing Canada as the 51st State.

It is worth noting that Canada has already signed a contract worth 19 billion Canadian dollars. This amount covers not only the purchase of the planes but also the costs related to training, infrastructure, maintenance, and additional equipment.

To date, more than 3 billion dollars have already been spent, which corresponds approximately to the cost of 16 F-35 along with significant expenditures for training, infrastructure, and logistical support.