Carney and Burnham to Hold First Talks at Everton's Stadium

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his British counterpart, Andy Burnham, will hold their first face-to-face meeting on Wednesday at the home of the soccer club both men support, before watching Everton play together.

The bilateral talks will take place at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, ahead of the club's third-round Carabao Cup tie against Wolverhampton.

The venue lends a personal dimension to the encounter. Burnham is a lifelong Everton supporter and season-ticket holder, while Carney has credited cousins in Liverpool with drawing him to the club. Carney attended Everton matches during the seven years he spent living in Britain 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 on Monday and Tuesday following the death of his father, who was 86 and had Alzheimer's disease.

A senior Canadian government official said the leaders are expected to discuss a Canadian-backed proposal to combine competing plans for an international defense bank that could help NATO allies finance higher 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, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly, said Ottawa believes the two proposals could be brought together.

The leaders are also expected to discuss a potentially expanded Canadian role in the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, along with cooperation on drones, artificial intelligence, satellite communications, critical minerals and quantum technology.