Trump orders assessment of security risks of Chinese drones in final broadside before he leaves office

  • Trump’s order also directs agencies to outline ‘potential steps that could be taken to mitigate these risks’, including discontinuing all federal use
  • Last month, the US Commerce Department added China’s DJI Technology, the world’s largest drone maker, to the US government’s economic blacklist

DJI Agras MG1 drone before taking off. Photo: Handout

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing US agencies to assess any security risks from Chinese-made drones in American government fleets and to prioritise removing them.

Trump directed all US agencies to outline the security risks posed to the existing government drone fleet from drones built by Chinese companies or by other countries deemed foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Print option is available for subscribers only.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.