MADRID – Spain has officially shelved its plans to purchase the US-made F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, Spanish daily El Pais reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. Preliminary talks with US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin have been suspended indefinitely, marking a significant shift in Madrid’s military procurement strategy.
Despite earlier interest and budgetary allocations, the decision comes after the Spanish government approved a €10.471 billion ($12.126 billion) defense spending package in April, part of its broader commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on defense and security. However, 85% of these funds have been earmarked for European-made systems, making the acquisition of US aircraft incompatible with Spain’s updated national defense priorities.
This move reflects Madrid’s increasing focus on bolstering Europe’s defense industrial base, aligning with broader EU efforts to reduce reliance on US-made weaponry and support domestic production in the face of evolving global threats.
