US warns it will send fighter jets into Canadian airspace if F-35 deal fails

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U.S. may change decades-long NORAD deal with Canada Should the government change its mind? At the time of purchase 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jetsthe U.S. ambassador to Canada warned.

In the latest back-and-forth feud between the U.S. and Canada over tradeAmbassador Pete Hoekstra warned that if Canada buys fewer fighter jets, the United States will “fill in the gaps” on security issues.

This may mean that the United States needs to buy more F-35 fighter jets for its own use and use them to Interference in Canadian airspace more frequently.

Under NORAD’s current terms, the United States and Canada can conduct operations in each other’s airspace to track or intercept threats. However, Hoekstra said if changes were made to the fighter jet agreement, U.S. intervention would go further, requiring new terms for the Cold War-era agreement.

‘NORAD has to change,’ Hoekstra told CBC News.

Under NORAD terms, the U.S. and Canada can fly in each other's airspace to intercept threats — Under NORAD terms, the U.S. and Canada can fly in each other’s airspace to intercept threats (AFP via Getty Images)

Hoekstra’s comments came months after the incident. Canadian government says it is ‘reviewing’ The terms of the fighter jet deal were adjusted after the project was found to cost more than expected.

In 2022, Canada agreed to purchase 88 F-35A advanced fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, with the country initially committing to finance 16 deliverable jets.

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But the plan soon ran into challenges. Not only is it taking longer than expected to build the planes, but a preliminary audit of the deal in 2025 found that the program’s cost had risen to $27.7 billion, up from an initial $19 billion.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a review as tensions between the United States and Canada rise over President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Now Canadian officials are reportedly looking to other countries to provide them with fighter jets, including Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab, which makes the JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jet. Saab has offered to build the jets in Canada, creating 12,600 jobs.

“The government is interested in all major projects that not only protect Canada’s security and sovereignty but also create jobs across the country,” Melanie Jolly, industry minister told CBC News.

Hoekstra (pictured left with Trump) described the current defense relationship between the U.S. and Canada as “awesome.” (Getty Images)

“We certainly can’t control President Trump, but … we can control our defense investments, who we award contracts to and ultimately how we can create jobs in Canada. So we’re going to be focused on that.”

But Hoekstra warned that the United States would still need to rethink how it cooperates with its northern neighbor on security if Canada chooses to buy Saab’s Gripen E jets.

“If they decide to use an inferior product that is not as interchangeable and interoperable as the F-35, then our defense capabilities will change,” Hoekstra said.

“So we have to figure out how to replace it,” the ambassador added.

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Hoekstra’s warning is the latest attempt by U.S. officials to pressure another country to comply with its government’s wishes, particularly those related to national security. it follows Trump threatens to impose tariffs on European allies Does not support the US acquisition of Greenland.