US President Donald Trump says he hopes to “work something out” to have Canada included in his administration’s $175bn “Golden Dome” missile defense system, a project he has touted as America’s answer to Israel’s Iron Dome.“Everybody wants to be a participant in it… We’re gonna be having a Golden Dome the likes of which nobody’s ever seen before,” Trump said on Wednesday while announcing that US Space Command headquarters would move from Colorado to Alabama. He added that Canada has shown interest in being part of the defense shield.A dome ‘the likes of which nobody’s seen before’Plans for the Golden Dome, obtained by Reuters and presented under the slogan “Go Fast, Think Big!” to 3,000 defense contractors in Huntsville, Alabama, outline an ambitious three-layer system of missile interceptors, radar arrays, lasers, and space-based defenses. The slides noted the US has previously built interceptors and re-entry vehicles but acknowledged it has never developed one capable of reentry while targeting an enemy missile.Lockheed Martin has promoted the system as one that would protect the US from hypersonic missiles, drones, and aerial swarms “with unmatched speed and accuracy.” Other firms linked to the project include Palantir and Anduril, though SpaceX was not mentioned in the latest presentation.The system would include a new missile field in the US Midwest, supplementing existing sites in southern California and Alaska.Cost and funding challengesTrump has placed the price tag for the Golden Dome at $175bn. Congress has so far appropriated $25bn through his tax and spending bill passed in July, which also made cuts to social programs such as Medicaid. Another $45.3bn has been earmarked in his 2026 presidential budget request.Still, officials admit the true cost remains uncertain. “They have a lot of money, but they don’t have a target of what it costs yet,” a US official told Reuters.To close the gap, Trump suggested earlier this year that Canada could contribute $61bn toward the project.Canada’s possible roleIf Ottawa commits, it would mark one of the largest defense contributions in Canadian history. The move would deepen North American security integration, though critics warn of the political and financial risks tied to such a massive defense buildout.Trump’s campaign promiseTrump campaigned in 2024 on building a missile shield for America, repeatedly comparing his plans to Israel’s Iron Dome, which was developed with over $1bn in US funding. Just days after taking office in January 2025, he signed an executive order to “immediately begin construction” of a state-of-the-art missile defense system.“Thanks to President Trump’s vision, Golden Dome will make this a reality, securing our future,” Lockheed Martin declared in a March statement.For Trump, the project is both a campaign promise fulfilled and a defining symbol of his second term, though it remains to be seen whether Canada will agree to pay for a place under the dome.
