British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that the United Kingdom is willing to welcome Germany into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a collaborative initiative with Italy and Japan to develop next-generation fighter jets. The announcement was made during Burnham’s first official visit to Germany since taking office in July, following meetings with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
“I’ve indicated to the Chancellor … our openness to Germany joining GCAP,” Burnham stated at a news conference on Thursday. He emphasized that the UK aims to advance this partnership in the coming months, working in tandem with existing partners Italy and Japan.
The suggestion that Germany could join the GCAP consortium has gained traction after the collapse of a rival Franco-German fighter development project in June. The six-nation framework currently includes the UK, Italy, and Japan, having recently welcomed Canada as an observer nation in July. The program is focused on producing sixth-generation warplanes equipped with artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and other cutting-edge technologies to ensure air superiority against emerging rival powers.
Beyond defense collaboration, Burnham and Merz are set to formalize a new bilateral security partnership designed to counter hybrid threats, including sabotage and cyberattacks. Burnham described these dangers as immediate, noting in a pre-visit statement that attacks on infrastructure and democracies are not distant threats but ones that directly impact citizens’ homes and workplaces with the intent to weaken and divide nations.
While Burnham’s office specifically highlighted Russia as a primary concern—a sentiment echoed by British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who identified President Vladimir Putin as the top security threat last month—the agreement is framed as addressing threats from any origin. The two nations will share security intelligence and cooperate to monitor, deter, and disrupt hostile activities.
Germany has similarly expressed alarm over Moscow’s actions, recently accusing Russia of orchestrating a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a claim denied by the Kremlin. According to Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane in Berlin, the strengthened UK-Germany ties serve as a strategic signal to both the United States and Russia regarding Europe’s commitment to its own security within the NATO framework.
The leaders are also expected to discuss continued support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia and address disruptions to global trade routes, such as those in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, they plan to formally ratify the 2025 Kensington Treaty, an accord that pledges deeper cooperation between the two nations in science, technology, defense, security, and economic growth.
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