Statement from the Minister of National Defence

February 04, 2023 - Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Anita Anand, issued the following statement:

“Today, the United States took definitive action to bring down China’s high-altitude surveillance balloon that has violated U.S. and Canadian airspace and international law.

“Yesterday evening and today, the Prime Minister and I were briefed on today’s operation by the National Security and Intelligence Advisor and the Chief of the Defence Staff. 

“Officials in the national security community have been working bi-nationally and Canada has been closely engaged with its U.S. counterparts on the decision and unequivocally supports the actions taken. Canada thanks the United States for its close collaboration.

“The bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking and analyzing the trajectory and actions of the high-altitude surveillance balloon.

“The cooperation between Canada and the United States through NORAD ensures the security and defense of North American air sovereignty, and we thank its members for having the watch.”