Canada is in discussions with the United States regarding potential participation in President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters Wednesday that Ottawa is considering entering into a partnership agreement but did not disclose any estimated costs for Canada’s involvement in the project.
The premier stressed that joining the Golden Dome project through investments and partnership will be evaluated accordingly, as military decisions are involved. His remarks followed after Trump’s announcement Tuesday that Canada was interested in joining the project. According to the president, the Golden Dome will initially cost $25 billion.
Additional Economic Discussions
Audrey Champoux, Carney’s spokesperson, noted that the prime minister’s recent election provides him with a “strong mandate” to negotiate with the United States on a new and comprehensive security and economic relationship.
Besides the Golden Dome, the discussions will also include strengthening and modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Trump’s Golden Dome concept revolves around advanced aerial weapons, including hypersonic missiles and space-based sensors and interceptors. Its template is partly based on the Iron Dome that Israel has been using since 2011 for missile and rocket interception. Turkey has a similar missile defense version called the Steel Dome, an artificial intelligence-powered network-centric air defense system.