Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured former U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada would enhance surveillance along the largely undefended U.S.-Canada border, a senior Canadian official revealed on Sunday. Trudeau met Trump in Florida on Friday for a dinner discussion, during which Trump reiterated his pledge to impose tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa took stronger action to prevent the unauthorized movement of people and drugs across the border.
Canada, which sends 75% of its exports to the U.S., could face severe economic repercussions from such tariffs. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the dinner, said the two leaders discussed Canada’s plans to bolster border security measures.
“We’re considering acquiring more drones, additional police helicopters, and redeploying personnel to enhance surveillance,” LeBlanc told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He described the move as both a practical and symbolic effort to reassure Canadians and Americans about the border’s security.
LeBlanc emphasized Canada’s intent to convey to U.S. officials that imposing tariffs would harm both economies due to their deep interconnectivity. “I’m confident the Americans will see that such actions are not in their best interest,” he stated, adding that the dinner was “very warm and cordial.”
Trump echoed similar sentiments on Saturday, describing the meeting as “very productive,” with discussions on border issues, trade, and energy. The cooperative tone marked a notable departure from the pair’s past interactions.
In earlier exchanges, Trump had criticized Trudeau harshly, calling him a “far-left lunatic” in 2022 over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers and labeling him “very dishonest and weak” after a G7 summit in 2018. By contrast, the Mar-a-Lago dinner concluded with Trump personally escorting Trudeau to his car, telling him, “Keep in touch. Call me anytime. Talk soon.”
