F-35 Sales Are America’s Belt and Road

Comparing the F-35 Program to the Belt and Road Initiative

The article draws a comparison between the United States' F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), highlighting their similarities as globe-spanning economic and security projects.

The F-35's Economic and Political Leverage

Despite criticisms regarding cost and design, the F-35's advanced technology and complex supply chain create significant dependence for participating countries. This dependence grants the U.S. considerable leverage, as seen in the case of Turkey's suspension from the program following its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

• The U.S. can impose sanctions, impacting Turkey's economy and access to U.S. financial institutions.
• Turkey's aviation industry, supplying F-35 components, faces substantial losses if cut off from the program.

Market Dominance and Global Implications

The article argues that the F-35's market dominance stems from its technological superiority and the high cost of switching to competitors. The program's success comes from pressure on states to join to avoid being outmatched by rivals, creating an asymmetric interdependence.

While the BRI aims for wealth generation and peaceful coexistence, the F-35 program offers prestige, technological access, and close security ties with the U.S. The article suggests that currently the F-35 program is more influential than BRI but leaves the possibility of that changing in the future.