U.S. Pressures Portugal to Buy F-35 Jets

The United States is pressing Portugal to select the F-35A as its next-generation fighter, intensifying a procurement debate that carries strategic weight beyond Lisbon. 

According to the Feb. 23 report, Washington has urged the Portuguese government to choose the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft as the replacement for its aging fleet, framing the decision as aligned with NATO interoperability and allied cohesion.

The Portuguese Air Force is evaluating options to succeed its current fighters. 

While the F-35A has emerged as the leading U.S.-backed candidate, Lisbon has not confined its discussions to Washington. 

The service has also maintained talks with Sweden’s Saab, manufacturer of the Gripen E, and France’s Dassault Aviation, producer of the Rafale. 

The fighter competition unfolds amid doubts in parts of Europe about NATO’s long-term cohesion under President Donald Trump. 

The report notes that uncertainties regarding alliance commitments have factored into Portugal’s consultations with alternative suppliers. 

In this context, the aircraft decision becomes more than a technical selection; it is a hedge against geopolitical volatility.

The F-35A, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, is already operated by multiple NATO members and designed for high-end interoperability, data fusion, and networked operations. 

Saab’s Gripen E and Dassault’s Rafale represent advanced fourth- or “4.5-generation” alternatives, offering differing industrial and sovereignty models. Portugal’s engagement with Saab and Dassault signals an effort to preserve leverage in negotiations and to assess broader strategic dependencies.