Napolitano meets with Canadian public-safety minister to discuss perimeter security partnership
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano this week met with her Canadian counterpart, Public-Safety Minister Vic Toews, to discuss the perimeter security partnership that promises the two countries will work collaboratively to strengthen information sharing to combat cross-border crime, according to a DHS readout. Information-sharing has been a long-held strategy of the two nations’ strategy to cripple transnational criminal organizations that seek to exploit the border to traffic drugs, arms and other illicit goods.
“We will continue working closely with our Canadian partners through greater operational collaboration and intelligence-sharing to strengthen the security of both our nations within, at, and away from our border,” Napolitano said.
Following their meeting in June, Napolitano and Toews discussed the countries’ progress implementing the objectives set forth in “Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness”, a declaration of President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The declaration established a roadmap for the two countries to share responsibility for the safety, security and resilience of the U.S.–Canadian border.
According to the readout, during the meeting Napolitano reiterated the nations’ shared responsibility for the safety, security, and resilience of the U.S. and Canada by addressing threats at the earliest point possible; facilitating trade, economic growth, and jobs; and collaborating on integrated cross-border law enforcement.
The meeting follows an announcement in March when the two representatives announced the public release of the U.S.-Canada Joint Border Threat and Risk Assessment. The assessment addressed terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration and highlighted the continued commitment of both nations to identify and mitigate potential threats of terrorism and transnational organized crime along the shared border, according to the White House.
