Canada Golden Dome missile talks underway as PM Mark Carney confirms discussions with U.S. on joining Trump’s $175B defense system.
Golden Dome: A New Era in Missile Defense
Trump’s vision for Golden Dome would place U.S. missile defenses not only on land but also in space — a first for American defense strategy. The multilayered system aims to intercept incoming threats at all four stages of a missile’s trajectory:
- Pre-launch detection,
- Boost phase,
- Midcourse interception, and
- Final descent destruction.
Trump announced he expects the system to be fully operational by 2029, the end of his current term.
Canada’s Role Under Consideration
Carney stated Wednesday that talks with Trump and senior U.S. officials have occurred and that his government is now evaluating Canada’s potential role in the project.
“Is it a good idea for Canada? Yes, it is good to have protections in place for Canadians,” Carney said.
While Trump claimed Canada had expressed interest, Carney noted the decision is not negotiable in the traditional political sense, but rather a military and strategic assessment.
Space Threats and National Security
Carney warned Canadians of emerging missile threats, including those from space-based platforms. He emphasized that Canada must decide whether to act independently or in cooperation with the U.S.
“With a Golden Dome, there will be discussions that could impact Canada — but Canada wouldn’t be part of them,” Carney cautioned.
Tensions and Cooperation with Trump
Though Carney has been critical of Trump’s approach to international cooperation, especially after Trump’s “51st state” comment, he acknowledged that defense collaboration may still be necessary.
Canada and the U.S. are already allies under NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), but Golden Dome would be a deeper and more expensive partnership, particularly with its space-based satellite layer aimed at neutralizing advanced missiles from China and Russia.
“We cooperate if necessary but not necessarily cooperate,” Carney said, signaling a careful, strategic posture.
Source: AP News
