Great Britain: Burnham offers Germany fighter jet cooperation

Great Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham surprisingly offered Germany the joint development of a new fighter jet during his inaugural visit to Berlin. Burnham said during his meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Chancellery that he had signaled his openness to Germany being able to participate in the project. “This is something we want to push forward in the coming period.”

Specifically, according to him, it is about participation in the GCAP program. GCAP (Global Combat Air Program) is a planned new stealth bomber in which Great Britain, Italy and Japan are taking part. A joint fighter jet project between Germany and France failed just this summer after long disputes. Since then, the search for an alternative has been ongoing.

Kensington Treaty comes into force

The defense cooperation is part of the new German-British friendship treaty, which was signed in July 2025 during the Chancellor's inaugural visit to London. The so-called Kensington Treaty provides for closer cooperation in various areas of foreign and security policy as well as the economy. Facilitations are also planned, such as visa-free travel for school trips by groups of students.

Merz spoke of a historic day. "This agreement opens up new opportunities for Britain and Germany to work together," he said. "After Great Britain unfortunately left the European Union, we are now at least making a bilateral agreement."

Burnham stated: "In challenging times - and they are challenging times - we need collaboration of the highest quality with our closest partners, and Germany is indeed one of our closest partners." The Kensington Treaty will improve security in Europe, grow the economies of both countries and raise the living standards of the population, he said.

First EU trip as Prime Minister

Burnham also specifically announced closer cooperation, for example in the defense of hybrid threats. Both Germany and Great Britain are confronted with this, "and it makes sense to face these threats together" and support each other in defending them, he explained.