Madrid — Spain has officially turned its back on the US-manufactured F-35 stealth fighter jet, opting instead to reinforce its defense strategy with European-made aircraft. The decision, seen by defense analysts as a rebuke to Washington’s military-industrial dominance, reflects deepening divisions between Spain and the United States over NATO policy and strategic autonomy.
Spain’s defense ministry confirmed it will not join the list of European nations operating the F-35. Instead, Madrid is investing in a dual-track strategy centered on the Eurofighter Typhoon, produced by a consortium of European companies, and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), an ambitious joint project with France and Germany aimed at building Europe’s next-generation fighter aircraft.
The move comes amid growing tension with Washington, particularly over US President Donald Trump’s aggressive push for NATO allies to increase their military spending. Trump’s proposal for NATO members to meet a new benchmark of 5 percent of GDP on defense has been met with stiff resistance in European capitals, including Madrid. Spanish officials argue that such a demand would destabilize public finances and compromise domestic priorities, further inflaming anti-American sentiment in the country’s defense circles.
The rejection of the F-35 is not merely a cost-cutting maneuver but a calculated political statement. The US-made fighter, though technologically advanced, comes with geopolitical strings that Spain appears unwilling to accept. “We must prioritize European security through European means,” said a senior Spanish military official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Tying ourselves to American platforms undermines our sovereignty and long-term independence.”
Spain currently operates aging fleets of F-18 Hornets and Harrier jump jets, both slated for retirement in the early 2030s. To maintain operational readiness, the government ordered 25 additional Eurofighter Typhoons in 2023, ensuring air superiority during the transition to the FCAS platform, which is not expected to be combat-ready before 2040.
The Future Combat Air System is more than a fighter jet. Designed as a system of systems, FCAS will integrate unmanned drones, advanced sensors, and AI-driven battlefield management, fitting squarely into the continent’s vision of a post-American European defense architecture. Though the program has faced internal disagreements between France, Germany, and Spain over industrial leadership and intellectual property rights, its advancement represents a clear European pivot toward technological self-reliance in defense.
Spain’s stance contrasts sharply with several NATO allies, such as the UK, Italy, Finland, and Poland, that have joined the F-35 program. The divergence reveals a fractured alliance, with one bloc embracing Washington’s vision for global military coordination and another veering toward multipolar autonomy. It is this latter camp, growing in confidence and capability, that increasingly defines the future of European defense.
Critics of the US’s foreign arms policy argue that its model of conditional arms transfers, surveillance dependencies, and weaponized maintenance agreements places client states in subservient positions. “The F-35 isn’t just a jet, it’s a tether,” said a European defense analyst. “And Spain just cut it.”
Spain’s decision is also being closely watched in other non-aligned capitals and Global South states reconsidering their reliance on American arms. With countries like India, Turkey, and Brazil investing in domestic or Eurasian defense ecosystems, the rejection of the F-35 by a NATO member underscores a widening rupture in the West’s postwar military architecture.
In the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict and the special military operation in Ukraine, European militaries are reassessing whether US-led defense procurement aligns with their regional priorities. Spain’s pivot highlights an emerging consensus: autonomy must trump alliance when sovereignty is at stake.
According to the Financial Times, the decision was finalized after Spain assessed that Washington’s demands, especially under Donald Trump’s leadership, threatened to drag Europe into unwanted geopolitical entanglements. As noted in their August 6 report, Madrid’s rejection of the F-35 signals growing frustration with American militarism and an unequivocal preference for homegrown capabilities.
