Burnham offers Merz cooperation on fighter jet development
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham visits the Chancellor in Berlin. The two leaders bring a friendship treaty into force and seek closer cooperation on security.
Berlin (dpa, d.de) – During his first official visit to Germany, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz the opportunity to develop a new fighter jet jointly. The proposal specifically concerns Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), under which the UK, Japan and Italy plan to develop a next-generation combat aircraft. Burnham said at his meeting with Merz at the Federal Chancellery that he had “signalled [his] openness to Germany participating in GCAP, the next-generation combat aircraft programme”.
The defence ministers of both countries are to explore possible cooperation. No decision has yet been made. Following the failure of the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project, Germany is looking for alternatives.
Merz calls it a historic day
The two countries also agreed on closer cooperation in countering cyberattacks, sabotage and other hybrid threats. The German-British friendship treaty also entered into force at the meeting. Chancellor Merz described it as a historic day. He said the treaty opened up new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, particularly for young people.
The so-called Kensington Treaty was signed in London in July 2025 by Merz and the then British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It is intended to strengthen relations after Brexit and provides, among other things, for closer cooperation on defence and economic policy and easier travel for school groups.
