In a significant shift in policy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that Canada will deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Canada border and enhance security measures in coordination with the United States. The move follows a high-stakes phone call with President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders reached an agreement to pause newly imposed tariffs and work toward a joint effort to combat illegal immigration and the fentanyl crisis.
Trudeau’s announcement represents a dramatic shift in Canada’s approach to border security, particularly in response to growing concerns over drug trafficking and illegal crossings. In his statement, Trudeau detailed an extensive $1.3 billion border plan, including the deployment of additional helicopters, advanced surveillance technology, and increased personnel.
“I just had a good call with President Trump,” Trudeau posted on X. “Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan—reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology, and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.”
In addition to border reinforcements, Trudeau announced a series of major policy changes, including:
- Appointing a Fentanyl Czar to oversee Canada’s fight against the opioid crisis
- Officially designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations
- Launching a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering
- Investing $200 million into intelligence operations focused on fentanyl and organized crime
This agreement comes after Trump leveraged economic pressure to force action, imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods (alongside a 10% tariff on China) in response to the continued flow of illegal drugs and migrants across U.S. borders. Canada and Mexico quickly retaliated with tariffs on American goods, escalating tensions before diplomatic talks led to Monday’s breakthrough.
President Trump confirmed Trudeau’s announcement on Truth Social, celebrating the agreement as a victory for U.S. border security and American interests.
“Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans,” Trump wrote. “I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30-day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”
The pause in tariffs mirrors a similar deal struck with Mexico just hours earlier, when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in exchange for a temporary halt to economic penalties.
Beyond the border security agreement, Trump made headlines with his boldest statement yet about U.S.-Canada relations. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president suggested that Canada’s reliance on the U.S. for military protection and economic stability raises an important question:
“We don’t need them for cars. We don’t need them for lumber. We don’t need them for anything. We don’t need them for energy. We have more energy than they do,” Trump stated. “Why are we willing to lose between a hundred billion and two hundred billion dollars a year? We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different.”
While the remark was delivered in typical Trumpian fashion, it underscores the growing economic and geopolitical divide between the two nations, as well as Trump’s broader vision for renegotiating North American trade and security agreements on terms that prioritize American dominance.