Breaking news tonight: Canada’s $19 billion F-35 deal is on the brink of collapse after a Pentagon audit reveals catastrophic failures in the U.S. defense system. Prime Minister Mark Carney faces mounting pressure to reconsider Canada’s reliance on a program plagued by delays, unaccounted assets, and systemic dysfunction.

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Pentagon’s latest audit, marking its eighth consecutive failure, has raised alarms in Ottawa. With delivery delays averaging 238 days and a lack of accountability for spare parts, the integrity of the F-35 program is now in serious question. This revelation challenges the very foundation of Canada’s defense strategy.

Sources indicate that Carney’s defense review team is urgently reassessing the commitment to 88 F-35 stealth fighters. The Pentagon’s inability to provide accurate data on its global spares pool raises concerns about operational sovereignty. If the U.S. can’t verify its own assets, how can Canada trust its national security to this flawed system?

The implications are staggering. With the F-35 program’s costs ballooning to $485 billion and total lifetime costs exceeding $2 trillion, Canada’s investment seems increasingly precarious. Military planners and defense analysts are now forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: dependence on an unreliable partner is a recipe for disaster.

As nations worldwide reconsider their defense partnerships, Canada is at a crossroads. Countries like Switzerland and Spain are already pivoting away from American platforms, opting for European alternatives that promise reliable delivery and transparent costs. The momentum is shifting, and Ottawa must decide whether to follow suit.

The Pentagon’s audit findings have illuminated a pattern of dysfunction that cannot be ignored. Canadian defense officials are now weighing the viability of diversifying their fleet, potentially incorporating platforms like Sweden’s Saab Gripen E. This shift could provide the operational reliability that the F-35 program has failed to deliver.

In light of these developments, the question facing Carney is clear: should Canada continue to gamble its defense future on a program riddled with failures, or should it embrace a mixed fleet strategy that enhances sovereignty and operational readiness?

As the defense landscape evolves, so too must Canada’s approach. The time for strategic courage is now. Carney’s government has an opportunity to redefine its defense procurement strategy, prioritizing institutional reliability over political momentum. The stakes are high, and the choice will shape Canadian sovereignty for generations to come.

With the Pentagon’s failures now evident to all, Canada must act decisively. The $19 billion question is not just about aircraft specifications; it’s about trust, accountability, and the future of national security. Ottawa must choose wisely as it navigates this critical juncture in defense policy.