Burak Bir
08 October 2026•Update: 08 October 2026
The British prime minister said on Wednesday that the UK is open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a next-generation fighter jet project involving Britain, Italy and Japan.
At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Andy Burnham expressed his "openness" to Germany joining GCAP, saying this is something that they will see progress in the coming period, working with other partners, Italy and Japan.
"Of course, we need deeper economic cooperation today," he said, citing the importance of enhanced bilateral ties with Germany, including partnership on economy and defense.
GCAP brings together the UK, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation, stealth, multi-role combat aircraft intended to enter service from 2035.
Germany's interest in exploratory talks on GCAP came after Berlin's joint aircraft project with France collapsed.
Burnham pointed out collaboration on a number of levels, particularly in relation to defense and security and a new partnership countering hybrid attacks which is "something that the UK and Germany are facing on a regular basis."
"It makes sense to face these threats together and to support each other in countering them, as well as countering interference in our democratic processes, as well as being strong together when we face these threats," he added.
He reiterated that his government is "very committed" to securing deeper cooperation with the EU and "seeing if we can bring the UK closer to Europe, particularly in the interests of economic growth and also collaboration on irregular migration."
Burnham said he was "glad to be here" to ratify the Kensington Treaty, the scheme that is a bilateral cooperation agreement signed last year by Merz and then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The treaty focuses on deepening defense, migration, and economic ties between the two countries through a mutual military assistance pledge, stricter crackdowns on English Channel human trafficking networks, streamlined travel agreements, and joint clean energy and tech initiatives.
