Italy’s defense minister says additional countries are interested in joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter jet project. The project involves Italy along with partners Britain and Japan, and the minister describes openness to widening participation beyond the initial participants. The statement is made in the context of ongoing efforts to develop and field a next-generation combat aircraft under the GCAP framework. While specific names of prospective partner nations are not identified in the available reporting, the remarks indicate that Italy expects more countries to express willingness to participate. The reports characterize the development as a step toward expanding the program’s industrial and operational scope, while the core partnership among Italy, Britain and Japan remains central. The minister also emphasizes the intention to keep the project accessible to additional partners, suggesting discussions are underway or expected as the program progresses. No details are provided here on timing, contractual changes, or how new participants would be integrated into design and production responsibilities.