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Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
WASHINGTON—A high-level and bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is planning to attend the Farnborough Airshow led by two senior senators.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations Committees, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, issued a joint statement ahead of the show confirming their attendance. The U.S. delegation will also include Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Alex Padilla (D-Cal.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).
It is routine for U.S. politicians to attend the Farnborough and Paris air shows, typically in support of aerospace companies in their districts seeking contracts and partnerships. Moran and Shaheen have led such delegations since 2023.
In their statement with regards to Farnborough 2026, Moran and Shaheen emphasize the show’s opportunity to strengthen national security and expand economic partnerships with allies. “As NATO allies commit to increased defense spending to ward off growing threats from Russia and China, it’s in our national interest to deepen trade partnerships with our allies while strengthening national readiness,” Shaheen stated.
That may sit somewhat uncomfortably with speeches and statements from U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior Cabinet members who have criticized NATO and some European leaders. The timing is also interesting because the UK is set to see a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, replace Keir Starmer during the Farnborough week. While both Burnham and Starmer are politicians with the Labour party, Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester in England’s northwest, will likely set a different agenda focused first on addressing the UK’s lukewarm economy and diminished wealth and status since exiting the European Union. Burnham will also need to select his cabinet, including secretaries for defense, transport and foreign affairs.
“Our aerospace sector plays a pivotal role in both national defense and civilian aviation, and the United Kingdom is one of our largest trading partners,” Shaheen stated. It may be some time beyond Farnborough before U.S. politicians know how the new UK leadership feels about that.
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