Canada reconsiders F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington, says minister

.

Canada is actively looking at potential alternatives to the U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighter and will hold conversations with rival aircraft makers, Defence Minister Bill Blair said on Mar15, just hours after being reappointed to the post as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet.

The remarks came one day after Portugal signaled that it was planning to ditch its acquisition of a high-tech warplane.

Re-examination in this country is taking place amid the bruising political fight with the Trump administration over tariffs and threats from the American president to annex Canada by economic force.