Fighter Jets, Sovereignty, and Pressure Politics: Canada Pushes Back on the U.S.

Canada just tested the limits of its closest alliance — and the U.S. responded with pressure.After signaling hesitation on its F-35 fighter jet purchase, Canada was publicly warned that U.S. jets could enter Canadian airspace under existing defense arrangements. Officially, this is about security. Unofficially, it’s about leverage, dependence, and who really controls sovereignty inside modern alliances.What this episode coversIn this week’s Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack the story through defense, geopolitics, and industrial policy:Why Canada is rethinking the F-35 deal — and what wasn’t said publiclyThe hidden risks of defense dependence, from kill switches to supply chainsWhy Canada is exploring alternatives like Saab — and the promise of domestic jobsHow NORAD and shared airspace became a pressure pointWhy this mirrors U.S. moves on chips, manufacturing, and economic nationalismThe uncomfortable question: where does alliance end and coercion begin?Why this mattersThis isn’t just about fighter jets. It’s about how middle powers protect autonomy when alliances start to feel asymmetric.Canada’s move reflects a broader global shift: countries want security partnerships without total dependence. The U.S. response shows how power is enforced when strategic interests are challenged. The deeper question isn’t whether Canada is right or wrong — it’s whether sovereignty is still possible inside modern defense alliances.🔗 Connect with Us📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠