Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has indicated that Saudi Arabia is likely to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a collaborative project involving Italy, Britain, and Japan to develop an advanced front-line fighter jet. The announcement came on Wednesday, following discussions among the three countries.
The GCAP, which was established in December 2022, represents a significant step in defence industry collaboration, combining the separate next-generation fighter initiatives of the three nations. Tajani confirmed that the partnership, initially limited to Italy, Britain, and Japan, is expected to be expanded to include Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this month, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with her Japanese and British counterparts, Shigeru Ishiba and Keir Starmer, in Brazil, where discussions centred on extending the project. The collaboration aims to have the new combat aircraft in flight by the middle of the next decade, with companies such as Leonardo, BAE Systems, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries involved in its development.
Saudi Arabia’s potential inclusion in the GCAP is seen as a strategic move, bringing both financial investment and access to a lucrative market to a project expected to cost billions of dollars.
Italy’s government is facing internal doubts over whether its plan to meet NATO’s defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP will satisfy NATO and the European Commission, despite publicly maintaining confidence in its budget strategy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to make an official visit to Kazakhstan from April 26 to 27, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the Vatican on Saturday for talks with senior Catholic Church officials, amid ongoing criticism of the Trump administration’s policies.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to address key international issues, with a particular focus on new U.S. tariffs.
Italy will host the next round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, local media reported on Monday.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
Australia’s Labor party has promised a free medical advice line and expanded Medicare funding as cost-of-living pressures dominate the election campaign.
U.S. President Trump says American ships should transit the Panama and Suez Canals without charge, renewing calls to assert U.S. control over strategic waterways.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
U.S. President Trump says American ships should transit the Panama and Suez Canals without charge, renewing calls to assert U.S. control over strategic waterways.
Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, calling for an end to the Gaza war and pressing for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
Australia’s Labor party has promised a free medical advice line and expanded Medicare funding as cost-of-living pressures dominate the election campaign.
U.S. President Trump says American ships should transit the Panama and Suez Canals without charge, renewing calls to assert U.S. control over strategic waterways.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment