UK Leaves Door Open for Germany to Join GCAP Fighter Jet Program

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said London is leaving open the possibility of Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – the partnership between the UK, Italy and Japan to build a new fighter jet.

"I told the Chancellor that we are leaving open the possibility of Germany joining GCAP," Burnham said. "This is something we want to pursue in the period ahead, together with our other partners, Italy and Japan."

The move follows the collapse in June of the joint French-German fighter program, which fueled speculation that the GCAP founding nations might open their doors to Germany. In July, the GCAP bloc admitted Canada as an "observer country."

GCAP aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter equipped with artificial intelligence, next-generation sensors and other advanced technologies. Western countries are striving to maintain air superiority over rival powers.

The visit to Germany is Burnham's first official overseas trip since becoming UK prime minister in July. The two leaders are also expected to confirm a new joint UK-Germany security partnership to counter sabotage, cyberattacks and other hybrid threats from hostile actors.

"Attacks on our infrastructure, our businesses and our democracy are no longer a distant threat. They reach into people's homes and workplaces, designed to make us weaker and more divided," Burnham said in a statement ahead of the visit.

The UK prime minister's office on Thursday specifically cited the threat from Russia, but stressed the partnership would address security threats regardless of their origin. Under the agreement, Britain and Germany will share security information and coordinate on surveillance, deterrence and disruption of threats.

In recent months, British lawmakers have voiced concerns about potential threats from Russia. Last month, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that Russia and President Vladimir Putin are the biggest threat to Britain's security.

Germany has also raised concerns about what it says is a growing security threat from Moscow. Last month, Berlin accused Russia of being behind a failed drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport. Moscow denies any wrongdoing.

Reporting from Berlin, Al Jazeera correspondent Dominic Kane said the security partnership is "supposedly meant to send a message to a number of countries" about the intent to strengthen European security.

"This is a way of expressing the intent of Germany and Britain with regard to Ukraine, but also more broadly about the future of Europe, while the US still plays a certain role with NATO," Kane said. "We know that Merz and Starmer [Burnham's predecessor], and presumably Burnham too, want to show both the Americans and the Russians just how important European security is to them."

The two leaders are also expected to discuss other key European issues, including continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia and disruption to global trade routes, including the route through the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, the two are expected to formally ratify the Kensington Treaty 2025, a document committing the two countries to deepening cooperation on science, technology, defence, security and economic growth.