Key points
- Trump announces initial total cost of $25b
- Programme faces political scrutiny and funding uncertainty
- Democrats concerned by potential SpaceX involvement
ISLAMABAD: Canadian Prime Minister Markey Carney has said that “high level” talks are taking place with the US about joining its proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, aimed at countering futuristic threats.
US President Donald Trump unveiled the plan for the new missile defence system on Tuesday, announcing an initial total cost of $25bn (£18.7bn). He said Canada was interested in joining the project.
According to BBC, there are doubts from experts on how the US would deliver a comprehensive system and it is unclear how Canada would participate or how much it would pay.
Democrats are concerned by potential SpaceX involvement in the project.
“We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments in partnership (with the US). And it’s something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level,” Carney told a news conference.
Comprehensive defence
Trump wants a system that can defend against a wide array of enemy weapons — from intercontinental ballistic missiles to hypersonic and cruise missiles and drones — asking for it to be ready in about three years, near the end of his second term in office.
But it faces significant technical and political challenges.
Carney warned of new and increasing missile threats “that in the not too distant future could come from space.”
“We take those threats seriously,” he said.
Canada and the United States are partners in continental defence through the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).
Trade and security partnerships
At the same time, Ottawa is looking to diversify its trade and security partnerships after once strong Canada-US ties have frayed.
It recently announced a review of a major purchase of US-made F-35 combat planes and signed a deal with Australia to develop Arctic radar systems.
Carney said his government is also in talks with European allies on “becoming a full partner of ReArm Europe,” an initiative to bolster European defence capabilities and industry.
