As tensions rose between the U.S. and the European Union on diplomatic and trade matters following U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House, a rumor began to spread in March 2025 that Portugal had canceled its order of F-35 fighter jets, made in the U.S.
For example, a post by Occupy Democrats on Facebook on March 13 suggested that Portugal's government had made that decision based on the U.S. unpredictability (archived):
The text on the image read:
THIS IS MASSIVE.
Portugal has CANCELED the order for F-35s from the U.S. 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."
@JDPOC
TRUMP HAS TURNED US INTO A PARIAH STATE JUST TO PLEASE PUTIN!
The post had gained 65,000 reactions and 5,900 comments as of this writing. The claim also spread on X. Further, readers searched the Snopes website to verify the claim, and others emailed to inquire about its veracity.
The claim has elements of truth in it, as well as incorrect information. For this reason, we have deemed it a mixture of true and false.
On March 13, 2025, Portugal's Defense Minister Nuno Melo gave an interview to the digital daily newspaper Público. The interview came after a vote of no-confidence in the country's parliament — which forced the government to call for a new election, the date of which had yet to be set. This means that the current government will remain in place until the election happens in a caretaker capacity, unable to make important decisions.
However, asked whether Portugal would go through with the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets to replace its fleet of aging F-16s, Melo replied that Portugal, as member country of the European Union, would have to consider European jets as an option:
The F-16s are at the end of their cycle and we will have to think about replacing them. But, in our choices, we cannot ignore the geopolitical environment. The recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and in the international geostrategic plan, has to make us think about the best options, because the predictability of our allies must weigh more heavily in our decision. We have to believe that, in all circumstances, these allies will be on our side. There are several options to consider, particularly in the context of European production and also taking into account the return that these options may have for the Portuguese economy.
The journalist, providing more context, reminded the minister that the Portuguese air force had recommended the F-35s. In response, the minister reiterated that Portugal could not ignore the change in the United Statese' position regarding NATO and the world since the second Trump administration began. He added that this change may affect Portugal's ability to obtain service for these jets:
And this ally of ours [the U.S.], which has always been predictable over the decades, could now bring limitations to use, maintenance, components, and everything that has to do with ensuring that aircraft will be operational and used in all types of scenarios.
Beyond Trump's stance on NATO, on which he aligned more closely with Russia President Vladimir Putin, Trump's erratic shifts on tariffs since he took office also sowed uncertainty around the world for American trading partners, especially in the EU.
Portugal's reasoning reflected a wider change across the EU, especially after Trump had a contentious meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on Feb. 28, 2025. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and the two countries have been at war since. Ukraine has benefited from the support of both the EU and the U.S.; however, during following that meeting, Trump stopped providing material support for Ukraine, including by halting weapon deliveries (they have since resumed).
In reaction to Trump's pro-Russia stance, the EU leaders held an emergency meeting to decide whether to boost its defense of Ukraine and of the EU at large. They expressed concern that if Russia won the war against Ukraine, it would soon move to invade EU member countries, the most vulnerable of which included Poland, Estonia or Finland — former satellite states of the now-defunct USSR.
However, Melo didn't say the deal was definitively off the table, merely that his country should consider other options and that, should his coalition be reelected, they would explore purchasing jets made in Europe. Only Portugal's new government will be in a position to make the final decision.