Trump Proposes $61 Billion Fee for Canada's Inclusion in "Golden Dome" Security Agreement
United States Proposes "Golden Dome" Missile Defense System, Canada Refutes Sovereignty Threats
WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump announced a proposed $175 billion missile defense system, dubbed the "Golden Dome," on Tuesday, with the Space Force General Michael Guetlein appointed to lead the initiative. The system aims to create a symmetrical network of satellites capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting incoming missiles, representing a substantial evolution from the initially announced "Iron Dome for America."
In a social media post, Trump suggested that Canada would need to pay $61 billion to join the Golden Dome system if it chooses to maintain its sovereignty. However, he stated that the cost would be zero if Canada were to become the 51st U.S. state. Trump's proposal has been met with significant skepticism in Canada.
The "Golden Dome" system is intended to counter threats from strategic competitors such as China and Russia and employ next-generation technologies across land, sea, and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors. Despite its ambitious goals, the system's cost is projected to be hundreds of billions of dollars, with estimates reaching over $831 billion over two decades, making it a subject of criticism and skepticism.
Meanwhile, on the same day as the throne speech was delivered in Canada's Parliament by King Charles III, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney committed his government to joining a major European defense rearmament plan. Carney expressed hope that Canada could join ReArm Europe by July 1, a move aimed at reducing its dependence on the United States for weapons and munitions.
During a recent Oval Office meeting with Trump, Carney stressed that Canada is "not for sale" and will not consider becoming a U.S. state. Cooperation on air defense between Canada and the U.S. currently occurs under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), with Canada investing approximately $28 billion over 20 years to upgrade this system.
- The United States' proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system, a significant evolution in politics and policy-and-legislation, aims to counter threats from countries like China and Russia, also involving crime-and-justice due to its substantial cost.
- Despite the United States' suggestion that Canada pay $61 billion to join the "Golden Dome" system, maintaining its sovereignty, the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has expressed interest in joining a European defense rearmament plan, as general-news, marking a shift away from relying on the U.S. for weapons and munitions.
- The politics surrounding the "Golden Dome" system extend beyond its intended purpose, with the system's projected cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, a subject of criticism and skepticism.
- While the Trump administration has proposed the "Golden Dome" missile defense system as a response to war-and-conflicts, the Canadian government has rejected any potential acquisition through sovereignty threats, as mirrored in Prime Minister Carney's assertion that Canada is "not for sale."
