By Sergio Goncalves
LISBON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – The U.S. ambassador to Portugal has urged Lisbon to replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, saying the stealth jet would ensure interoperability with Europe’s top-tier air forces.
Ambassador John Arrigo told CNN Portugal late on Sunday that he aimed to draw on his business experience to help Portugal ramp up defence spending to NATO’s target of 5% of gross domestic product by 2035 from the current 2%.
US Ambassador Urges Portugal to Buy F-35s, Join Top-Tier Air Forces
