UK Open to Germany Joining GCAP Fighter Jet Programme, Says PM Andy Burnham in Berlin

On Thursday in Berlin, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed the UK's willingness to allow Germany to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a collaborative effort to develop advanced fighter jets. This marked Burnham's initial visit to the German capital since assuming office, where he conveyed this possibility to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The discussions primarily revolved around security matters, including the establishment of a new partnership to address hybrid threats. Originally, GCAP was an agreement among the UK, Italy, and Japan to create a sixth-generation fighter jet, and in July, Canada was added as an "observer nation." The upcoming jets, informally known as "Tempest," will feature technologies such as AI and advanced sensors, as Western countries aim to uphold air dominance against adversaries like Russia and China.