Thailand's Request to Buy F-35 Jets Denied by U.S.

The United States has declined to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Thailand due to issues with training and technical requirements. Thailand had set aside a budget of $407.68 million for new jets to replace its aging, mostly U.S.-made F-5 and F-16 fighters. The F-35 is considered a sensitive export sold only to the United States' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific includes Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The United States had offered the upgraded F-15 and F-16s models, which could be transferred faster.