The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will purchase 17 new drones, with plans to acquire at least 14 more, to increase surveillance along the Canada-United States border, Radio Canada reported on Tuesday.
The move follows growing concerns over border security. Last week, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.
Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the tariffs will remain in place until issues of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal migration are addressed.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc confirmed that Canada will purchase drones, technical equipment, and helicopters to boost border enforcement.
“We will redeploy additional personnel to the border,” LeBlanc said Monday.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand noted that Canada is responsive to its U.S. counterpart and has already allocated significant resources to border security. “We continue to invest in defense, border management, and public safety,” she added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump discussed border security during a meeting last Friday at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.