Bring down 'barriers of selfishness': Italy defence minister slams UK for holding back 'technology transfer'

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has reportedly accused Britain of withholding technologies in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint project with Italy and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035. In a Reuters interview, Crosetto urged the UK to overcome "barriers of selfishness" and fully share advancements, emphasizing that technology sharing is vital for a "serious relationship" among partners. "There is no longer anyone who can be considered first and second class and who wants to defend old legacies," he said. The defence minister is a senior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's rightist Brothers of Italy party.
The GCAP aims to create an advanced aircraft incorporating cutting-edge technologies. Crosetto, a senior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, stressed that no partner should be treated as "first or second class." He noted Italy’s full commitment to open sharing and Japan’s near-total cooperation, contrasting this with the UK’s apparent reluctance, though he provided no specifics on the withheld technologies. Britain’s Ministry of Defence was unavailable for comment.

Crosetto endorsed Saudi Arabia’s potential involvement in GCAP, citing its technological needs and substantial resources. He highlighted Japan’s inclusion as a precedent for expanding defence cooperation beyond Europe, positioning the programme as a model for global collaboration.
In 2024, Britain, Italy, and Japan formed a joint company to advance the jet’s development, building on their 2022 agreement. Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, and Japan’s Aircraft Industrial Enhancement (JAIEC) each hold a 33.3% stake, marking a significant step toward realizing the project.

On a separate issue, Crosetto addressed negotiations with Elon Musk’s Starlink for encrypted satellite communications, insisting his ministry’s role is limited to technical assessments. He criticized the politicization of the deal, arguing evaluations should focus on technical merits, not political ties or sentiments toward figures like Musk, a known ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. "I believe we need to distinguish political aspects from technical ones, as we cannot base our reasoning solely on sympathy, antipathy, or temporary political ties to people like the world's major tycoons," Crosetto said.
The talks have drawn ire from Italian opposition parties, who question entrusting national security to a foreign businessman.