The scathing threat to change the terms of the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD), came as Canada reviews the partnership it has with its tariff-happy southern neighbor, including its agreement to buy 88 American-made F-35 fighter jets.
With just 16 of these cutting-edge jets paid for and develivered, Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra warned CBC that ‘NORAD would have to be altered’ if the Canadians did not follow through on their purchase.
Hoekstra argued that the US would have to purchase more fighter jets itself to defend North America’s airspace if the country backed out, potentially resulting in US Air Force jets enforcing Canada’s sovereign airspace. »If Canada is no longer going to provide that [capability], then we have to fill those gaps, » he added, highlighting the importance of NORAD in defending both countries from airborne threats.
NORAD has tracked potential threats to the airspace over Canada, Alaska, and the rest of the contiguous US since the start of the Cold War, with American and Canadian jets being sent to intercept any unidentified aircraft.
But Hoekstra is threatening that US jets would be forced to operate in Canadian skies if Prime Minister Carney decides to cancel the rest of the F-35 purchases, which cost between $80 million and $110 million per plane.
