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.
Leaders of Central Asian countries and Italy convened in Astana for the first Central Asia–Italy summit, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration aimed at deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni adopted a joint statement to expand their strategic partnership following talks held on Friday in Astana.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described Kazakhstan as an “strategic partner” in Central Asia during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, according to a statement from the Kazakh presidency issued today.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's first visit to Central Asia has begun in Uzbekistan. In Samarkand, a high-level meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italian officials resulted in the signing of several protocols and intergovernmental agreements.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Rome on 3 June for bilateral and international discussions, her office confirmed.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
Ukraine has carried out one of its largest drone strikes of the war, reportedly hitting more than 40 Russian military aircraft at multiple air bases, a Ukrainian security official told Reuters on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Ukraine will attend a meeting in Istanbul on Monday, following a proposal from Russia.
Flash floods in central Nigeria have killed at least 151 people, with authorities warning the toll may rise further as search and rescue operations continue in the flood-ravaged town of Mokwa, Niger State.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix, marking his fifth victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The death toll from a quarry collapse in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 19, with six people still missing, officials said on Sunday.
Ukraine has outlined its formal negotiating framework ahead of planned peace talks with Russia, set to take place on June 2 in Istanbul, according to a full document seen by Reuters.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
Ukraine has carried out one of its largest drone strikes of the war, reportedly hitting more than 40 Russian military aircraft at multiple air bases, a Ukrainian security official told Reuters on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Ukraine will attend a meeting in Istanbul on Monday, following a proposal from Russia.
Flash floods in central Nigeria have killed at least 151 people, with authorities warning the toll may rise further as search and rescue operations continue in the flood-ravaged town of Mokwa, Niger State.
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