Canada Weighs Joining US 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense Amid Security Talks

The Canadian government is currently in talks with the United States to join the proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system, aimed at countering advanced aerial threats. Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding security cooperation, including both existing and new initiatives such as the Golden Dome.

The proposal was unveiled by US President Donald Trump, who announced an initial cost of $25 billion, indicating that Canada has shown interest in participating. However, experts have raised concerns about the feasibility of delivering a comprehensive system, as well as uncertainties surrounding Canada's potential roles and financial contributions.

This potential collaboration comes amid heightened trade and security negotiations between Canada and the US, following Trump's threats of steep tariffs and suggestions that Canada would be better off as a US state. This stance has fostered a surge of national pride in Canada, contributing to Carney's recent electoral success.

Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister, stated that Canadians have given their leader a strong mandate to negotiate a new security and economic relationship with the US. She emphasized that the discussions include strengthening the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or Norad, alongside the Golden Dome initiative.

Trump reiterated that Canada desires protection and that the US is ready to assist. He stated that the Golden Dome program is expected to be operational by the end of his term, with a total projected cost of $175 billion, while urging Canada to "pay their fair share." However, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the total costs could exceed $542 billion over the next two decades, primarily concerning the space-based components.

Both nations already collaborate through Norad, which has been operational since 1958, focusing on aerospace and maritime surveillance and defense. The proposed Golden Dome, inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, aims to intercept increasingly sophisticated aerial threats, including hypersonic missiles, using space-based sensors and interceptors.

Experts like Shashank Joshi, defense editor at the Economist, have expressed skepticism about the US's ability to construct a comprehensive defense system across its larger land mass, suggesting that utilizing thousands of satellites for tracking and interception may be necessary. Joshi noted that while the US military would take the Golden Dome proposal seriously, completing it within Trump's term may prove unrealistic, given the enormous financial implications for the defense budget.

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