UK’s Burnham ‘open’ to Germany joining GCAP fighter jet programme

GCAP pact between the UK, Italy and Japan to build a new fighter jet welcomed Canada as an ‘observer’ in JulyPrime ⁠⁠Minister Andy Burnham says the United Kingdom is open to Germany ⁠⁠joining the GCAP programme, a partnership with ⁠⁠Italy and Japan to build a new fighter jet, after meeting Chancellor Friedrich ‌‌Merz in Berlin.“I’ve indicated to the Chancellor … our openness to Germany joining GCAP,” Burnham told a news conference on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Ex-German spy chief arrested: A history of spooks working for enemy powerslist 2 of 3Trump invites Putin to Miami G20: Why that matterslist 3 of 3Western militaries are undermining Ukraine’s defence, experts sayend of list“That is something ⁠⁠that we seek ⁠⁠to progress in the coming period, working with our other partners, Italy ⁠⁠and Japan.”There has been growing speculation that the ⁠⁠founding countries of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) could open the door to ‌‌Germany after a rival Franco-German fighter programme collapsed in ‌‌June.The GCAP pact to build a sixth generation fighter jet welcomed Canada as an “observer nation” in July.As western nations seek to maintain air superiority over rival powers, the new warplanes will be equipped with AI, next-generation sensors and other technology.Burnham is on his first official visit to Germany since becoming Britain’s prime minister in July. The leaders are also expected to confirm a new UK-Germany joint security partnership to counter sabotage, cyberattacks and other hybrid threats from adversaries.“Attacks on our infrastructure, our businesses and our democracies are not a distant threat. They reach into people’s homes and workplaces and they are designed to make us weaker and more divided,” Burnham said in a statement ahead of the visit.Burnham’s office singled out the threat posed by Russia in a statement on Thursday, but stressed that the partnership would confront security threats regardless of their origin.