Japan, Britain, and Italy Discuss Saudi Arabia's Involvement in Next-Generation Fighter Jet Program
During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders from Japan, Britain, and Italy met to discuss the potential inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). This multinational initiative aims to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet.
The three nations, who signed a convention establishing the GCAP international government organization (GIGO) in late 2022, are currently in the development phase of the next-generation aircraft. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in joining the program shortly after its initiation.
While Britain and Italy have shown openness to Saudi Arabia's participation, Japan remains cautious. Concerns regarding the potential impact on project timelines and confidentiality due to Saudi Arabia's involvement in regional conflicts and its relationships with other countries, including China and Russia, have been raised by some Japanese officials.
Despite these concerns, other officials within the Japanese government see Saudi Arabia's participation as an opportunity to strengthen national security partnerships in the face of a volatile Middle East and to benefit from the country's financial resources.
Discussions on Saudi Arabia's potential role are ongoing, with working-level meetings involving defense officials from all four nations already taking place. While amending the GIGO treaty to formally include Saudi Arabia is considered unrealistic due to time constraints, Riyadh is likely to participate as a partner country outside the treaty framework.
The inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the GCAP program remains under consideration, with Japan weighing the potential benefits against the concerns regarding confidentiality and project delays.