Switzerland’s USD 6,25 billion order for 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft is once again at the center of a heated political debate following the introduction of a 39 percent tariff on Swiss imports by the United States.
The decision announced by US President Donald Trump on Swiss National Day, August 1, 2025, has caused diplomatic tensions in Bern and prompted calls from parliamentarians across the political spectrum to reconsider the agreement. The new tariffs, intended to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries, have given new impetus to critics whose demands for the deal's cancellation have so far been rejected. The political dispute surrounding the acquisition of the world's most advanced fighter jet thus appears to be entering a new, critical phase.
A recurring political issue: The long history of the F-35 debate
The procurement of new fighter jets for the Swiss Air Force has been a recurring topic in Swiss politics for years. On September 27, 2020, the population, in a close referendum, approved the acquisition of new jets in principle with 50,1 percent of the vote. The government at the time, the Federal Council , selected the F-35A in July 2021 to replace the aging McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets and the aging Northrop F-5 Tigers . During the evaluation process, the fifth-generation aircraft prevailed over European competitors such as the Dassault Rafale , the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet , and the Eurofighter Typhoon . The decision immediately triggered a wave of outrage from the opposition.
In early 2022, the Socialist Party , the Greens , and the Group for a Switzerland Without an Army (GSoA) launched a petition to force a referendum on the procurement. They collected more than 100.000 signatures, arguing that the stealth jets were unnecessary, too expensive, and would jeopardize Switzerland's military neutrality. However, the Federal Council decided to sign the contract in September 2022 before a second vote could be held, citing the need to secure price guarantees and delivery dates. Parliament subsequently approved the purchase, effectively ending the attempt at a second referendum. The procurement contract has a volume of 6,035 billion Swiss francs, which is within the maximum volume approved by the citizens. The first aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
The return of the opposition: new arguments in light of tariffs
The new US tariffs have reignited a long-simmering debate. Political representatives from across the political spectrum are now calling for a reassessment of the deal. Hans-Peter Portmann , foreign policy spokesman for the Free Democratic Party (FDP), called on the National Foreign Affairs Committee to consider halting deliveries of the F-35A fighter jet. In an interview with the newspaper "Blick," he said: "In the current situation, we can't simply pretend nothing has happened." He proposes either canceling the contract at a loss or only accepting the tranches already paid for and halting further deliveries from the US. The resulting gap in national defense should be filled with European alternatives.
Left-leaning parties, which had already maintained their opposition, feel vindicated. As early as June 2025, they warned of potential additional costs of up to $1,3 billion. Green Party parliamentarian Balthasar Glättli pointed out that the US price guarantees only reflect the price paid by the US Air Force, and that tariffs on imported components could drive costs even higher. The "Stop F-35 Alliance" has launched another petition and has already collected over 42.500 signatures to urge the government to immediately halt the purchase.
On the other hand, Werner Salzmann , the security policy spokesman for the Swiss People's Party, defends the purchase. He described a cancellation as "absolutely premature" and warned that this could deepen the trade deficit and lead to further tariffs. He emphasizes that the F-35 is the only fifth-generation fighter jet and is also used in many other European countries.
Global impact: A shift in arms policy
The tariff dispute with the US has not only affected Switzerland. The shockwaves have also reached the international arms industry.
- The Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilate announced on August 8, 2025, that it would begin delivery of its business aircraft PC 12 and PC 24 to the USA. The USA is a key market for the company, as around 40 percent of annual production was sold there.
- Other countries are also rethinking their armament plans. According to reports, the Indian government announced on August 8, 2025, a planned procurement of the Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft suspended, which is said to be a reaction to the tariff dispute with Washington. India had previously ruled out purchasing the F-35 and is instead focusing on developing its own fighter jets as part of its "Make in India" and "Aatmanirbharta" policies.
- Spain has also changed course. As the newspaper "El País" reported on August 6, 2025, the government in Madrid has suspended talks on the purchase of the F-35. Instead, European defense projects will be prioritized.
The tariff dispute, which caused the trade deficit to grow from $38 billion in 2024 to almost $48 billion in the first half of 2025, has placed a massive strain on Switzerland's diplomatic relations with the United States. The Swiss Federal Economic Affairs Ministry (SECO) described the measures as "deeply regrettable" and emphasized that, unlike other countries such as the EU, which benefit from a more favorable tariff of 15 percent, Switzerland has no trade barriers for US products. The Federal Council is now being called upon to hold direct talks with the US President to defuse tensions and save the F-35 deal. However, current developments show that the days of trouble-free trade relations and arms deals may be over, and that a reassessment of dependence on US technologies is necessary.