MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet his new British counterpart, Andy Burnham, for the first time Wednesday at the home of the soccer club they both support — before watching Everton play together.
Carney and Burnham will hold bilateral talks at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool before watching the club face Wolverhampton in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
The setting adds a personal element to their first face-to-face meeting. Burnham is a lifelong Everton supporter and season-ticket holder, while Carney has said cousins in Liverpool led him to support the club. Carney attended Everton matches while living in Britain during his seven years as governor of the Bank of England.
When the two leaders spoke shortly after Burnham became prime minister in July, Burnham promised to “roll out the blue carpet” for his fellow Everton supporter.
Downing Street said Burnham canceled all public engagements Monday and Tuesday following the death of his father, who was 86 and had Alzheimer’s disease.
A senior Canadian government official said Carney and Burnham are expected to discuss a Canadian-backed proposal to combine competing plans for an international defense bank that could help NATO allies finance increased military spending and defense production.
Canada has championed the proposed Defense, Security and Resilience Bank, while Britain has pursued a separate multilateral defense financing initiative. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly, said Ottawa believes the proposals could be brought together.
The leaders are also expected to discuss a potentially expanded Canadian role in the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, as well as cooperation on drones, artificial intelligence, satellite communications, critical minerals and quantum technology.
