| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC December 9, 2002 U.S. and Canada Sign Bi-National Agreement on Military PlanningOn December 5, Secretary Powell signed an agreement between the United States and Canada to establish a new bi-national planning group at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The planning group will prepare contingency plans to respond to threats and attacks, and other major emergencies in Canada or the United States, enhancing our bi-national military planning and support to civil authorities. The Planning Group's focus will include maritime-and land-based threats. Contingency plans will be submitted to both governments for approval. The head of the Planning Group will be the Deputy Commander, who will operate under the authority of the Commander of North American Aerospace Defense. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, represented a dramatic change in the geostrategic environment for North American security. The overall threat to the North American continent from the air, land, and sea has greatly increased, including the potential for the use of weapons of mass destruction delivered by unconventional means, by terrorists or others. The United States and Canada remain convinced that close bi-national cooperation is vital to their mutual security. This agreement will help ensure that the two countries are better prepared for possible terrorist attacks and to assist one another in times of crisis.
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