UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held their first bilateral meeting in Liverpool to discuss cooperation on defence and artificial intelligence. The meeting included a football match at Everton’s stadium.
The British Prime Minister’s Office stated that the leaders agreed on the necessity for governments and the tech sector to collaborate to ensure online safety and address AI risks. This meeting followed Burnham’s spokesperson's remarks on the importance of AI companies discussing both the risks and opportunities associated with the technology. The spokesperson emphasized that policy decisions should be based on evidence rather than speculation, noting that current regulatory frameworks may not be adequate as AI capabilities evolve.
Currently, neither the UK nor Canada has a dedicated law governing AI. The UK has adopted a “pro-innovation” approach since releasing its policy paper in March 2023, allowing sectoral regulators to oversee AI without standalone legislation. In Canada, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act lapsed when parliament was prorogued in January 2025, and the government now depends on privacy law and a voluntary industry code.
On defence matters, discussions focused on aligning British and Canadian plans for a military financing bank, with Canada applying to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force and participating as an observer in the Global Combat Air Programme. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that Canada become the EU’s first “associate member” as it seeks to strengthen ties with Europe amid trade tensions with the United States.