F-35 fighter show is gesture to US allies
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When the stealthy, cutting-edge F-35 tore through Paris skies on its first-ever acrobatic display on Monday, the fighter jet also sent a message: NATO allies, the United States is still on your side—despite the mixed signals sent by US President Donald Trump.
In an Associated Press interview at the opening of the Paris Air Show, where the F-35 made its acrobatic debut, Brigadier General Select Todd Canterbury said the jet's displays are to "showcase the capability to all of our European partners and NATO allies" and "to reassure them that we are committed to NATO 100 percent and that we have got the capability to respond to any action necessary."
Trump has called NATO obsolete and excoriated European allies last month for not spending enough on their own defenses.
