British Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened the door for Germany to join the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme during talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, framing the move as an initial invitation rather than a firm accession. The discussions took place at the Chancellery during Burnham’s first official visit to Germany and came as the two governments ratified their new friendship treaty.
Burnham told reporters that London had signalled its openness to German participation and wanted to move the issue forward in the coming period with Italy and Japan. GCAP is a live sixth-generation fighter programme intended to enter service around 2035 and already involves Britain, Italy and Japan. The latest opening follows the collapse of the Franco-German FCAS/SCAF path, leaving Berlin to weigh alternative industrial and defence options.
German government circles indicated that defence ministers have been tasked with reviewing cooperation options, but no decision has been taken. The Berlin meeting also linked the fighter discussion to wider UK-German defence cooperation, including work under the newly activated bilateral treaty.