{"text":[[{"start":11.44,"text":"Spain is opting to replace its ageing fighter jet fleet with European military aircraft rather than the US F-35, as tensions over defence and foreign policy strain Madrid’s relations with Washington."}],[{"start":24.740000000000002,"text":"Madrid’s decision to shun Lockheed Martin’s F-35s is the latest sign of a rift with the US over defence, after Donald Trump branded as “terrible” Spain’s refusal to boost military expenditure to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 earlier this year."}],[{"start":44.540000000000006,"text":"“The Spanish option consists of the current Eurofighter and the FCAS in the future,” the Spanish defence ministry told the Financial Times, referring to the Future Combat Air System, a joint programme between France, Germany and Spain."}],[{"start":61.99000000000001,"text":"Trump’s return to the White House and his wavering commitment to Nato have prompted several countries to question their reliance on US armaments, but Spain’s refusal to meet the president’s demand to boost military spending to 5 per cent has made Madrid an outlier among Nato members."}],[{"start":81.79,"text":"Until Spain’s announcement, Portugal was the only European country that had publicly signalled it was considering alternatives to the F-35, citing a need to consider the “predictability of our allies”."}],[{"start":96.29,"text":"Meanwhile, in Switzerland, lawmakers are calling for the cancellation of a contentious order of three dozen F-35 fighter jets in response to Trump’s unexpectedly high tariffs on Swiss goods. The proposal, backed by lawmakers from multiple parties, reflects growing frustration over what they view as unfair economic pressure from Washington."}],[{"start":122.99000000000001,"text":"The Swiss government on Thursday defended the arms deal and said it would continue talks with the US for a better trade agreement."}],[{"start":131.17000000000002,"text":"The UK recently announced that it would buy F-35A models for the Royal Air Force to add an air strike capability to its nuclear arsenal."}],[{"start":140.97000000000003,"text":"Spain does not own any F-35s, but there had been speculation before last year’s US presidential election that Madrid would choose the Lockheed jet for its future needs."}],[{"start":153.12000000000003,"text":"The move to buy European aircraft was “unsurprising” given disagreements between Spain and the US on issues ranging from defence spending to China, said Michael Walsh, a US foreign policy expert and visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley."}],[{"start":173.21000000000004,"text":"“There would have been a tremendous political risk of the Trump administration using an F-35 purchase as leverage to push the Sanchez administration to align itself with US national security and foreign policy interests. The Spanish government would have been aware of that.”"}],[{"start":190.79000000000002,"text":"The opposition People’s party called for Spain’s defence minister Margarita Robles to appear before congress to explain the decision to opt for European aircraft."}],[{"start":202.02,"text":"Cuca Gamarra, a senior PP lawmaker, said: “We are witnessing yet another example of the Sánchez government’s core doctrine, which prioritises sectarianism and confrontation with the United States over the general interest and even the country’s security.”"}],[{"start":220.57000000000002,"text":"Spain’s decision was first reported by El País."}],[{"start":224.57000000000002,"text":"The F-35, known as a fifth generation jet, is the world’s only advanced, long-range stealth fighter and forms the backbone of many modern western air forces. It is used by the US as well as 19 allied nations, including some non-Nato members such as Japan."}],[{"start":245.65000000000003,"text":"Spain needs to replace part of its fleets of AV-8B Harrier and F-18 fighter jets, which are due to be retired in the 2030s."}],[{"start":255.00000000000003,"text":"In 2023, Spain agreed to buy 25 more Eurofighter jets made by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, increasing the size of its Eurofighter fleet to 115. But the jets cannot match the functionality of the F-35s and are considered 4.5th generation fighters."}],[{"start":277.94000000000005,"text":"They are assembled at an Airbus facility close to Madrid and are due to be delivered between 2026 and 2030."}],[{"start":286.1700000000001,"text":"The FCAS joint programme between France, Germany and Spain is still in its early stages, and has been subject lately to squabbling between the companies involved — Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Indra — which they say could put the project at risk."}],[{"start":305.2700000000001,"text":"FCAS will be a fuller system than the Eurofighter, coupling a more powerful fighter with drones and more integrated software. If the three countries and their defence contractors can overcome differences to continue development, then FCAS would come into service in 2040 at the earliest."}],[{"start":326.8200000000001,"text":"Additional reporting by Mercedes Ruehl in Zurich"}],[{"start":340.0900000000001,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftmailbox.cn/album/a_1754613317_8668.mp3"}