Prime Minister Carney heads to Europe for talks with UK, EU on trade and defence

Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to Europe for a three-day trip starting Tuesday that will include his first in-person meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham and addresses to European officials amid efforts to strengthen Canada's ties with European allies.

Carney will travel to Liverpool to meet with Burnham, who took office July 20 and is the UK's fourth prime minister in four years. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, and Carney plan to discuss Canada-U.K. relations on defence and security, energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. Carney congratulated Burnham when he took office.

The prime minister will also address the European Parliament in Strasbourg and attend the State of the European Union address. An EU ambassador to Canada said Carney and EU officials are looking to hash out a new partnership framework during the visit.

Before departing for Europe, Carney is hosting a two-day investment summit in Toronto on Monday and Tuesday. The European trip reflects Canada's pursuit of deeper ties with countries worldwide as relations with the United States have worsened. Canadian counter-tariffs on billions of dollars of U.S. products went into effect Tuesday after Canada-U.S. trade talks broke down in late August.