Canadian military officials stationed in Colorado questioned American counterparts about whether Washington intended to militarize the US–Canada border after President Donald Trump issued a broadly worded military directive, according to new reporting from The Atlantic.
The magazine reported that Canadian officials raised the issue as bilateral relations deteriorated and that American officials sought to reassure them that any border action would be cooperative.
At issue is Executive Order 14167, signed January 20, 2025. Section 3(a) instructed the defence secretary to revise the Unified Command Plan within 10 days, assigning US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) a mission to “seal the borders” against unlawful migration, drug trafficking, and other criminal activity.
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That provision did not identify a specific frontier. However, another provision explicitly required planning for ongoing southern-border security. The order’s introduction also cited the national emergency at the southern border.
Subsequent Pentagon planning provided a narrower picture. On March 21, 2025, USNORTHCOM announced that its commander had submitted a Level 3 concept plan covering border management, border security, and military capabilities focused on the southern border.
The command said the operational plan itself was not publicly releasable.
USNORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) share headquarters in Colorado Springs and an American commander, but they remain separate organizations.
The Atlantic’s reporting also described growing reluctance among Canadian officers to accept senior assignments in the US. Unnamed current and former officials cited concerns about career advancement, access to sensitive work, and the treatment of Canadian military families.
NORAD disputed any suggestion that the concerns had left senior Canadian positions vacant. Its spokesperson told The Atlantic that those roles remained fully staffed and that Canadian personnel retained the access required for joint defence operations.
Operational cooperation also continues. On August 20, 2026, NORAD and USNORTHCOM announced a joint exercise involving Canadian and American aircraft and military personnel.
Canada has meanwhile committed $38.6 billion over 20 years to modernize its NORAD capabilities, including surveillance systems and northern infrastructure.
Established in 1958, NORAD is responsible for binational aerospace warning and defence operations. USNORTHCOM, created in 2002, handles American homeland defence and related security missions.
