THIS IS MASSIVE. Portugal has cancelled the order for F-35s from the US and will replace their F-16s with European fighters. “We have to be able to count on the predictability of our allies, which is no longer the case with the United States."
More EU states to come. Winning
Share this post on reddit and also promote Mastodon for Europeans to join this platform
This entry was edited (2 weeks ago)
like this
reshared this
Philippe
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to Philippe • • •Bunbury (18+)
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Nelson
in reply to Bunbury (18+) • • •tuga
in reply to Nelson • • •Because Russia bad. Imported red scare or something.
@Algae_X @alexlunaview
Pete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫
in reply to tuga • • •@tuga @skyfaller @Algae_X
To be fair, Russia Bad is true (and has been since the Tsars), it just doesn't mean America Good.
All Empires Bad is something I can get behind.
(And note: the EU isn't an empire, because countries only join it voluntarily, and even if it's a terrible idea they're allowed to leave without hindrance)
reshared this
Andrew_TighF reshared this.
tuga
in reply to Pete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫ • • •Agreed.
I wonder what the Brits think about that hindrance bit, though 😉
@skyfaller @Algae_X @alexlunaview
Chowderman 🍴
in reply to tuga • • •The Brits left without hindrance.
maonu
in reply to Bunbury (18+) • • •Iwillyeah
in reply to maonu • • •maya_b 🇨🇦
Unknown parent • • •airdatanews.com/instead-of-f-3…
Instead of F-35, Portugal turns to Europe in search of new fighter - Air Data News
Ricardo Meier (Air Data News)reshared this
Douglas McMillan, Axel ⌨🐧🐪🚴😷 | R.I.P Natenom, Nikita Romanov, spiegelmama, Carol Hughes and mau 🏳️🌈#EndFossilFuels reshared this.
ngrbdx
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to ngrbdx • • •*_jayrope
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •ngrbdx
in reply to *_jayrope • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to ngrbdx • • •*_jayrope
in reply to ngrbdx • • •@ngrbdx I disagree. There is enough weaponry in Europe already. I am drawing this info from here:
Statista Daily Data: https://www.statista.com/chart/12972/europe-has-six-times-as-many-weapon-systems-as-the-us/
This chart shows the number of different weapon systems in service in 2016.
More recent info here:
SIPRI: https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2024/european-arms-imports-nearly-double-us-and-french-exports-rise-and-russian-exports-fall-sharply
(Stockholm, 11 March 2024) States in Europe almost doubled their imports of major arms (+94 per cent) between 2014–18 and 2019–23.
Infographic: Europe Has Six Times As Many Weapon Systems As The U.S.
Statista Daily DataUnitedWeStand🇪🇺🌻
in reply to *_jayrope • • •More *different* systems is not the same as more systems.
franebleu
in reply to *_jayrope • • •The military might lies mainly in the sheer number of weapon and the cannon fodder available for the slaughter, whatever is the tech level or the variety of the weapons systems.
Dima Pasechnik 🇺🇦 🇳🇱
in reply to *_jayrope • • •@jrp no idea what you mean by this.
Europe scrambled to send few spare F-16 to Ukraine. The weapon production lines are so underpowered atm that the whole EEA+UK struggle to send enough ammo and guns to Ukraine. Totally unprepared for a long war now, totally.
Chowderman 🍴
in reply to *_jayrope • • •@jrp
You want Europe to remain weak and to standby as it is consumed by fascism? Weird.
*_jayrope
in reply to Chowderman 🍴 • • •Chowderman 🍴
in reply to *_jayrope • • •@jrp
Of course Europe needs weapons to avoid being consumed by fascism (maybe too late for you in Saint Petersburg).
Without arming, Europe will either be invaded by fascist Russia, or, in the weakened rump of Europe, have a fascist government imposed upon it by Russia.
Given that Ukraine is currently suffering from an unprovoked invasion after disarming, your pro Kremlin talking point is even more ridiculous than it was historically.
Independence through continued weakness is as ludicrous as it sounds. Peace through deterrence is and always has been the correct answer.
As Carl von Clausewitz said “To secure peace is to prepare for war.”
*_jayrope
in reply to Chowderman 🍴 • • •Chowderman 🍴
in reply to *_jayrope • • •@jrp
You seem unable to comprehend what is in the links that you provided, as someone more polite than me already pointed out.
That you persist in referring to those links as support for your contention, after your misreading was pointed out, suggests that you are insincere.
C.S.Strowbridge
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to C.S.Strowbridge • • •Nelson
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Even if the USA weren't becoming the most evil version of itself, and even if every jet fighter weren't stealing food and other necessities from the poor and oppressed...
The F-35 is a garbage fighter jet, isn't it? Does anyone even like it? Maybe it has modern capabilities that an A-10 Warthog or whatever doesn't, but that doesn't mean it's well-made. Features aren't all that matters in a product.
Why did everyone agree to buy this junk? Are other options just as bad?
franebleu
in reply to Nelson • • •But it is now unreliable, so it's worth shit. The problem now is selling back this shit and getting rid of the contracts.
J$ reshared this.
RaymondPierreL3
in reply to franebleu • • •The engine it was designed to have is still not delivered. It’s also insanely expensive.
John G Fitzgerald
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to John G Fitzgerald • • •DyingWorld 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to DyingWorld 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ • • •Björn Gohla
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Here is a source: publico.pt/2025/03/13/politica…
(Actually, this is the original interview where the statement appears)
Nuno Melo afasta compra de F-35 aos EUA por causa de Trump. “O mundo já mudou”
Helena Pereira (Público)J$ reshared this.
Björn Gohla
in reply to Björn Gohla • • •Calling this a cancellation sounds like an exaggeration.
As far as I can tell they had been considering buying. But the minister of defense seems to say that that's off the table, given the circumstances.
PondAI
in reply to Björn Gohla • • •The post is clickbait at best, fake news at worst. Mastodon and fedi were supposed to be better, not biased the other way. But humans be humans, not reading carefully, not checking sources. *sigh*
Havyhh2
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to Havyhh2 • • •GhostOnTheHalfShell
Unknown parent • • •This is generally been reported on the last few days? The EU is creating an initiative to issue euros specifically so EU members purchase military equipment within the EU.
Which is going to hurt the American military industrial complex. Arm sales in Europe help maintain a consistent revenue stream for them. They won’t have it anymore.
reshared this
DeterioratedStucco and Carol Hughes reshared this.
GhostOnTheHalfShell
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •@Stefan___
Expect a lot of rage from the White House as they simply lose their minds over the loss of revenue.
It’s going to be the same kind of thing as the White House screaming that a boycott of Teslas is treason
reshared this
Regendans, Captain Jack Sparrow and Kernou reshared this.
JoD
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Instead of F-35, Portugal turns to Europe in search of new fighter - Air Data News
Ricardo Meier (Air Data News)Gary Parker reshared this.
Anti Faisisteach Saebhiar
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •jack
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •reshared this
Walrus 🏴, Ω 🌍 Gus Posey and Jer reshared this.
Walrus 🏴
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Interesting.
Don't instruct me where to share things.
Andreas K
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •@GhostOnTheHalfShell
They wanted the EU to spend more money on its defense.
But not this way you say? Oops, too bad.
Perhaps then you should not ambush the Ukrainian President in the White House. Or deactivate the relevant functions on US equipment remotely.
That makes customers wonder if you are the right provider of high tech arms for them.
@Stefan___ @alexlunaview
reshared this
Walrus 🏴, MarvinFreeman, SuperMoosie, DeterioratedStucco, Captain Jack Sparrow, Kernou and Andrew_TighF reshared this.
George Saich
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Mastodon Migration
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •COD
in reply to Mastodon Migration • • •Mastodon Migration
in reply to COD • • •That may be, but give the gravity of the news we should be very careful with accuracy.
GhostOnTheHalfShell
in reply to Andreas K • • •FAFO It’s fun to watch
Harold Jarche
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •DB Schwein
in reply to Harold Jarche • • •3 times already in the post.
Click on the original, and then read the comments.
AlexLunaView
in reply to DB Schwein • • •Harold Jarche
in reply to DB Schwein • • •DB Schwein
in reply to Harold Jarche • • •@harold
See where it says there are 29 comments?
Click on the comments and you will see the link at least 3 times!
Not snark, instruction.
Harold Jarche
in reply to DB Schwein • • •Africano
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Estos días, en algún hilo de tw, comentaban un artículo sobre los contratos leoninos para la compra de los F35. Pruebas que sólo se pueden hacer en EEUU, no se puede poner software propio, repuestos que trabajan just in time, sistemas centralizados en redes propias que pueden desconectar y dejarte con un pisapapeles volador carísimo. Un chollo.
Kamelot
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Cheers.
Erin Nivelet
Unknown parent • • •airdatanews.com/instead-of-f-3…
Instead of F-35, Portugal turns to Europe in search of new fighter - Air Data News
Ricardo Meier (Air Data News)reshared this
MarvinFreeman reshared this.
Kamelot
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Olé !
Kamelot
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •O sole miiiiiiiooooooo ...
Big badabooom !
zvhxxl
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •"Portugal has cancelled the order for F-35s from the US and will replace their F-16s with European fighters".
And so right they are. Today we have a US president who is a Russian asset, because what happened in 1987.
Support for the fighter planes we bought from US is no longer sure. They already stopped support for the F16 in Ukraine. Donald wants to attack Canada and Denmark.
Europe must build it's own military force, independant from the orange painted idiot in Washington.
zvhxxl
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to zvhxxl • • •Maddad ☑️
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •I'm glad to see they are using their brains.
AlexLunaView
in reply to Maddad ☑️ • • •Maddad ☑️ reshared this.
Maddad ☑️
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Maddad ☑️
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •found this..
airdatanews.com/instead-of-f-3…
Instead of F-35, Portugal turns to Europe in search of new fighter - Air Data News
Ricardo Meier (Air Data News)COD
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •DB Schwein
in reply to COD • • •Or Bombardier! That flip over crash with no fatalities would not have turned out the same in a Boeing.
Pascal
in reply to DB Schwein • • •DB Schwein
in reply to Pascal • • •Awww 😔
Pascal
in reply to DB Schwein • • •DB Schwein
in reply to Pascal • • •Which means the one that crashed wasn't even a young plane, and still did so well.
Pascal
in reply to DB Schwein • • •PKPs Powerfromspace1
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Oedhan
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to Oedhan • • •Captain Jack Sparrow
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •In an interview with Portuguese media outlet Público published on Mar. 13, 2025, Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo dismissed the possibility of ordering the fifth-generation fighter, aligning with other European nations reconsidering their defense procurement strategies.
theaviationist.com/2025/03/13/…
Portugal Drops Plans for F-35 Citing U.S. Political Uncertainty - The Aviationist
David Cenciotti (The Aviationist)reshared this
Szescstopni, Carolyn and Carol Hughes reshared this.
Captain Jack Sparrow
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •along with the US stocks crashing, and tesla sales plummeting.
Dave Mayhood
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to Dave Mayhood • • •@d_mayhood dave ita takes time to change things but the process can start. Here in EU not many countries dropped the F 35 contracts. But if we demand it many more will especially because there are alternatives for example the Euro planes.
Even if they are not as good as an F 35 overall they are close and that is all it takes. Also to have reliable weapons, if USA holds the buttons, not good
AlexLunaView
Unknown parent • • •Manutherium
Unknown parent • • •Nuno Melo afasta compra de F-35 aos EUA por causa de Trump. “O mundo já mudou”
Helena Pereira (Público)samiamsam
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Howard Chu @ Symas
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •@GhostOnTheHalfShell @Stefan___ remember that trump is working for putin, who will be perfectly happy to see the US military industrial complex disintegrate.
Will be interesting to see if those industrialists get angry enough to fix the situation.
ArchaeoIain
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to ArchaeoIain • • •ArchaeoIain
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Elle Plaster
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Chowderman 🍴
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •I expect that the White House will be quiet. The rage that is displayed is for television, and I doubt that Trump is going to want to publicly acknowledge the harm that he is wreaking on the US defence industry,
Milan Zimmermann
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Cancelling the F-35 orders and replacing them with EU made:
Czech Republic must do the same.
Canada must do the same.
Chris Lamke
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Tom DB 🦣
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •ArtGeek
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Europe, please keep this up. Call his bluff every single time. Humiliate the orange one. Show the world that his strong-arm tactics simply reveal his deep insecurity and weakness. Give our spineless politicians an example to follow.
Sincerely,
A pissed off US citizen
lp0 on fire
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •Dervish
in reply to Captain Jack Sparrow • • •reshared this
Captain Jack Sparrow and Toni Aittoniemi reshared this.
bk
in reply to maya_b 🇨🇦 • • •#AmericaLast
MegatronicThronBanks
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Also anything can shoot down an F-35.
John Coates
Unknown parent • • •Reminder that Trump is a repeated bankrupt, who was not able to get any non-Russian bank to lend to him personally, even after becoming president.
@Doppelganger75
Carol Hughes reshared this.
Wes Montage
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz…
$1,000,000,000,000 Problem: The F-35 Nightmare Just Won't End - The National Interest
migrate (The National Interest)Bart Allen
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Of Bookish Things
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •#LloydAxworthy says #Canada should cancel its #F35_deal with the U.S.
youtube.com/watch?v=LRa_POfJ4r…
reshared this
AnnaAnthro, Mark Steffen 🇨🇦💪 and Sir Osis of Liver 🇨🇦 🇲🇽 reshared this.
Ultra Verified
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Bin Chicken 🗑𓅠
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •chris actual
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •JeffreySmith 🌻🍉
Unknown parent • • •Yep. If you buy fighters from the US under trump, you may as well have putin as a co-pilot.
知耻而未勇
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •看来对美国的信任被川普摧毁之后，民主联盟规划‘’摆脱依赖‘’，真不是虚张声势。... show more
看来对美国的信任被川普摧毁之后，民主联盟规划‘’摆脱依赖‘’，真不是虚张声势。
GhostOnTheHalfShell
in reply to lp0 on fire • • •@lp0_on_fire
Voice to text, it betrays me all the time
GhostOnTheHalfShell
in reply to Chowderman 🍴 • • •@chowderman @Stefan___
Oh, don’t you worry I have faith in her ability to indulge in outrage especially for their base. In this area, they are particularly genius.
We will see
Cabbidges
in reply to Andreas K • • •EU probably not going to be wanting to export steel all that eagerly either, might need it. So much for tariffs.
reshared this
Merilee D. Karr, MD, MFA reshared this.
doomy 🦀
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •[object Object]
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •GhostOnTheHalfShell reshared this.
Airplanista 🇺🇦
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Toni Aittoniemi
in reply to GhostOnTheHalfShell • • •@GhostOnTheHalfShell @Stefan___ yeah. But my stupid country has right-wing leaders right now, and they insist that they have use the big loans to buy from abroad still!
Economic suicide..
These ”economic geniuses”.. 🤦♂️
RubenWA
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •aproitz
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Hey #Donald - This is a very #bad #Deal for the #US. I thought you don't like bad Deals ? Still you make bad Deals all of the Time. Very bad Deals.
#nomoretrump
MATE X
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Sensitive content
V'ger
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •K Leyton Cooper
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •A fuel sucking monstrosity❗️
Architekt die Welt
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •stfn
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •jakofields
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Mike
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Rasmus Lindegaard
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •I was all for the F35 back when Denmark ordered theirs. Now I am sad that we got them before all this shit happened.
Damn it!
And thank you for being sensible Portugal, thank you from the nothern part of EU!
Luís de Sousa
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Absolutely false! No such order was ever made.
The Air Force has showed interest in acquiring this type of aircraft but no decision was ever taken by government. Considering operational costs, it would never be more than a small squadron, if ever.
Mind here that when the interview was made the government was already in care-taking status, after failing a confidence vote last Tuesday. No actual decision was made.
NoBorg
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Graeme 🏴
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Kirsty
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •“They’re nasty,nasty people”
I hope Australia follows suit and cancels the submarines.
ZAC
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Justin
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •@andrew
Andrew Leahey
in reply to Justin • • •Justin
in reply to Andrew Leahey • • •@andrew
yep its the F-35 cannot fly within 25 miles of a storm.. Kinda reminds me of a pos well known metal truck around this country. lol
"F-35A Lighting IIs can’t fly within 25 miles of a thunderstorm or other atmospheric electrical activity. "
Karel Brits 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇨🇩
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Arthur Dent
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •More should act in that direction.
Stefan Marx
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Martin A. Brooks
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •The F35 was dead-almost-before-arrival.
forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021…
The U.S. Air Force Just Admitted The F-35 Stealth Fighter Has Failed
ForbesCynthia loves masks
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Incident Creator ❎
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Jan Johannesson
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •Gdlhà
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •But maybe "semi-fake" news:
No contract was cancelled, and the coalition government that made the suggestion not to buy US when the time comes might not have a say anyhow - just lost a vote of no confidence.
micchiato 🍉
in reply to AlexLunaView • • •AlexLunaView
in reply to micchiato 🍉 • • •