Denmark's defense head regrets choosing F-35 fighter jets

Rasmus Jarlov, the head of Denmark’s defense committee, has expressed regret over the country’s decision to purchase the F-35 fighter jets from the United States. He now considers buying American weapons a "security risk." Jarlov worries that the U.S. could use military support as leverage over Denmark, particularly regarding tensions related to Greenland. He made these remarks following concerns about a possible "kill-switch" feature that would allow the U.S. to disable F-35s owned by other countries. Although the Pentagon denied such a feature exists, Jarlov remains skeptical. He emphasized that a halt in U.S. spare parts could restrict Denmark’s use of the jets, mirroring a situation faced by Ukraine. Jarlov fears that the U.S. could threaten Denmark regarding Greenland, a territory rich in resources and strategically located near the Arctic. He criticized American intentions and noted that Denmark will invest heavily in its defense in the future, stating a preference to avoid American weapons where possible. In 2016, Denmark committed to spending about $3 billion on 27 F-35s to replace its older F-16s. So far, the country has received 17 jets. Jarlov's comments come amid other nations, like Portugal and Canada, reconsidering their reliance on U.S. military exports due to geopolitical tensions.