Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday expressed his country’s support for the US decision to “shoot down China’s high-altitude surveillance balloon in violation of US and Canadian airspace and international law.”
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“Canada supports this action. Together […] we will continue to protect and defend ourselves,” Trudeau said in a tweet.
The US shot down China’s high-altitude surveillance balloon, which violated US and Canadian airspace and international law. Canada supports this action. Together and with @NORADcommand, we will continue to protect and defend ourselves. https://t.co/DORfcoiu5f
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 4, 2023
Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said in a statement that she and Mr Trudeau “were briefed on today’s operation by the National Security and Intelligence Advisor and the Chief of Defense Staff.
Canada “worked closely with its American counterparts in making the decision and fully supports the actions taken,” she added, while “thanking the United States for their close cooperation.”
“The binational organization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has carried out the monitoring and analysis of the trajectory and high-altitude actions of the surveillance balloon,” the minister continued.
The balloon had flown over Canada before entering United States airspace.