Canada is looking at possible alternatives to a deal to buy US fighter jets, in part because it relies too heavily on the United States for its security, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said, quoted by Reuters.
Carney made the comments just days after ordering a review of the contract to buy 88 F-35 multi-role fighters (Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II) worth 19 billion Canadian dollars (13.29 billion U.S. dollars) from the manufacturer "Lockheed Martin" amid the trade war with the United States.
Canada's defense ministry says the contract remains in force and Ottawa has made a legal commitment to allocate funds for the first 16 F-35 aircraft. For his part, however, Carney made it clear that Canada would seek another solution.
"It is clear that our security relationship ... is too focused on the United States. We need to diversify", he told reporters during his visit to London, noting that Canada spends about 80 percent of its defense budget on American weapons.
"Given the need for value for money, given the opportunity to significantly manufacture alternative aircraft in Canada ... it is prudent and in Canada's interest to review these options," he added.
Carney did not mention specific companies. Swedish company "Saab", which lost the Ottawa contract to "Lockheed Martin", had promised to assemble its planes in Canada if a deal was reached.
Canadian companies are also trying to benefit from the relationship. The CEO of "Bombardier" (Bombardier) Eric Martel said he fears Washington could target the aircraft manufacturer's U.S. contracts if Canada cancels the Lockheed Martin deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada and has long said he is considering making it the 51st U.S. state, Reuters notes.
Public procurement expert Philippe Lagasse, a professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, said buying 16 F-35 fighter jets and then adding another plane would make the process more expensive.
Last year, Canada, pressured by successive U.S. administrations to increase its defense spending, pledged to allocate more funds to its armed forces and said that by 2030 military spending would approach NATO's target, Reuters notes.