João Gomes Cravinho warns against Portugal buying US F-35 jets

Former Portuguese Defense Minister João Gomes Cravinho has warned that purchasing American-made F-35 fighter jets would be a ‘grave error’. Speaking in Bruges, Belgium, Cravinho argued that such a move would create a strategic dependency on an ally whose future political path is highly uncertain.

While acknowledging that the F-35 is widely regarded as one of the best aircraft available, Cravinho questioned whether Portugal requires the absolute best at the cost of European defense integration and autonomy. He compared the purchase of next-generation combat aircraft to buying an ‘insurance policy’, noting that with the F-35, there is no guarantee that the provider will honor it.

This warning comes as the Portuguese government seeks to replace its aging F-16 fleet. The procurement process involves competition between Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Saab’s Gripen E, and the European Eurofighter Typhoon consortium, which includes Airbus.