Macron’s Bold Ultimatum to Europe: Ditch American Weapons, Buy European or Risk U.S. Control

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – As European nations grapple with an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, France is intensifying efforts to persuade its allies to reduce reliance on American military hardware.

Amid growing skepticism over U.S. defense policies, Germany, Portugal, and Canada are now reconsidering their plans to procure the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II, signaling a potential shift in the balance of defense procurement across NATO.

French President Emmanuel Macron has actively positioned France as an alternative defense supplier, advocating for the adoption of its domestically produced Rafale fighter jet as a direct substitute for the F-35.

Simultaneously, Macron has extended an offer of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system to nations wary of acquiring the U.S.-developed Patriot missile defense system.

“Those who purchase the Patriot system should be presented with the next-generation SAMP/T, a sophisticated air defense system jointly developed by France and Italy. Likewise, those considering the F-35 should be given the opportunity to acquire the Rafale, a highly capable multirole fighter that has proven its combat effectiveness,” Macron stated in a recent interview with French media, including Nice-Matin and Le Parisien.

Macron underscored his concerns over NATO’s overwhelming dependence on American weaponry, emphasizing the necessity for European nations to strengthen indigenous defense industries.

His remarks coincide with mounting pressure on Europe to diversify its military supply chains, particularly in light of uncertainties surrounding U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Portugal, one of the key European nations evaluating its fighter jet procurement strategy, recently announced a review of its decision to acquire the F-35 as a replacement for its aging fleet of F-16 AM/BM fighters.

The reconsideration stems from apprehensions regarding the unpredictability of U.S. policies under Trump’s leadership, as well as the broader geopolitical uncertainties facing NATO.

Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo acknowledged the urgent need for a replacement for the country’s 28 F-16 AM/BM fighters, which are nearing the end of their operational lifespan.

While Portugal had initially leaned towards the F-35, Melo’s latest statements strongly suggest that the nation is now looking towards European-manufactured alternatives.

“We cannot disregard the geopolitical implications of this decision. The evolving stance of the United States towards NATO forces us to reassess our options with greater scrutiny. The reliability of our allies is a crucial factor in determining our long-term defense strategy,” Melo asserted.

He also cautioned against potential operational restrictions associated with U.S.-made defense systems, stating, “The global security landscape is changing rapidly, and so are our alliances.

We must consider possible constraints in operational deployment, maintenance, component supply, and overall fleet sustainability to ensure our air force remains mission-capable in diverse conflict scenarios.”

Germany, another key NATO member, is embroiled in heated debate over its planned procurement of 35 F-35 Lightning II fighters.

The primary concern revolves around the possibility that the United States, under the Trump administration, could remotely disable the aircraft in pursuit of its political agenda.

Fears of a so-called “kill switch”—a theoretical mechanism enabling Washington to neutralize F-35 fighters remotely—have escalated following Trump’s controversial move to suspend military aid to Ukraine, in what many view as an attempt to coerce Kyiv into negotiations with Russia.

The €8.3 billion (RM39.7 billion) deal for Germany’s acquisition of fifth-generation fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, set to begin next year, has become emblematic of a larger conversation about Europe’s dependency on American defense technology.

“If there is even a remote possibility that the United States could one day impose similar operational constraints on Germany’s F-35s as it has on Ukraine’s military assets, then reconsidering the procurement agreement is a necessary step,” remarked Wolfgang Ischinger, former Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, as quoted by Bild.

Recent reports indicate that U.S.-supplied F-16s in Ukraine have faced operational challenges—not because they were directly disabled, but due to Washington’s suspension of electronic warfare support.

This has fueled speculation that the U.S. retains the capability to exert similar control over Germany’s future F-35 fleet.

In a related development, Washington recently refused to update the AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare pods fitted on Ukraine’s F-16s.

These pods, critical for countering Russian air defense systems, were expected to enhance survivability in contested airspace.

However, the U.S. decision to withhold upgrades has significantly diminished the combat effectiveness of Ukrainian fighter jets, raising red flags within NATO over the extent of American control over exported weaponry.

Canada, too, is undergoing a fundamental reassessment of its defense procurement strategy, citing concerns over excessive reliance on Washington for national security.

On Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that Canada is actively exploring alternatives to its planned purchase of 88 F-35s, mere days after he ordered a formal review of the C$19 billion (RM59.3 billion) contract with Lockheed Martin.

This development comes as Canada finds itself entangled in an ongoing trade dispute with the United States, further complicating its defense acquisitions and underscoring broader concerns over the long-term reliability of American military commitments.

As Europe navigates an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment, the debate over defense autonomy and strategic self-sufficiency continues to gain momentum.

With NATO members reevaluating their defense procurement strategies, the question of European military independence from Washington is now more pressing than ever.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA