NORAD would change if Canada pulls back from F-35 order, U.S. ambassador warns

By Elías Thorsson January 26, 2026
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March 7, 2024, Evenes, Norway: A Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft, with 332 Squadron, 132 Air Wing, takes off during Exercise Nordic Response 24, March 7, 2024 in Evenes, Norway. (Credit Image: © Lcpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa/U.S/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire)

The U.S. ambassador to Canada is warning that the NORAD defence pact would have to change if Canada pulls back from its planned purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets, saying the U.S. would need to fly its own jets into Canadian airspace more often to address threats, reports CBC.

  • Warning on NORAD: U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra says NORAD “would have to be altered” if Canada does not proceed with the full F-35 purchase, arguing that Canada would no longer be providing a key air defence capability.

  • More U.S. jets in Canadian airspace: Hoekstra says the U.S. would likely buy additional F-35s and fly them more frequently over Canada to fill capability gaps if Ottawa limits its fleet beyond the 16 jets already on order.

  • Pressure over interoperability: The ambassador argues that alternatives such as Sweden’s Gripen would be less interoperable with U.S. forces, forcing changes to how continental defence is organized under NORAD.

  • Canadian pushback: Defence experts caution against public pressure tactics, warning that political disputes risk undermining deterrence and benefiting adversaries rather than strengthening NORAD’s mission.

  • Political pressure tactic: Former national security adviser Vincent Rigby describes the ambassador’s remarks as an attempt to pressure the Canadian government, saying they should not be taken as definitive Pentagon policy.

  • Broader debate: Polling shows strong public support in Canada for incorporating the Gripen into the fighter fleet, though experts note that a mixed fleet would strain the air force and complicate operations.

  • U.S. dismissed as threat: Asked about Canadian concerns stemming from President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on annexation and Greenland, Hoekstra dismissed the idea that the U.S. poses a threat, calling it “crazy.”