The United States has issued a blunt warning to Canada amid growing speculation that Ottawa could reconsider its planned purchase of F-35 fighter jets, a move US officials say could seriously strain bilateral relations.

The warning follows renewed political debate inside Canada over the long-term cost and strategic value of the multibillion-dollar defense agreement, which would see the country replace its aging fighter fleet with American-made stealth aircraft.

Officials aligned with former US president Donald Trump framed the potential pullback as a national security issue, arguing that abandoning the deal would undermine military cooperation between the two neighbors and weaken North American defense coordination.

Canada previously committed to buying dozens of F-35 jets as part of a broader modernization plan, but concerns over rising maintenance costs and shifting defense priorities have prompted internal reviews, according to a report on the ongoing discussions.