Amid heightening tensions with its neighbor to the south, Canada is reconsidering a multi-billion dollar defense deal with the U.S.
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said late on Friday that the government is looking at possible alternatives to the American-made F-35 stealth fighter and that they will speak to other aircraft manufacturers.
Blair’s comments came just hours after he was reappointed as defense minister by new Prime Minister Mark Carney. One day previously, Portugal indicated that it was planning on backtracking on its acquisition of the fighter jet.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada by economic force, and frequently referred to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” as he argued that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Canadians are now increasingly supportive of ditching the $19 billion deal with the U.S. and find alternative aircraft to those made and maintained across its southern border.
In June 2023, after years of delay, the Liberal government signed …