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

Prime ⁠⁠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. “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.