Trump Unveils Ambitious ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence Plan to Shield U.S. from Global Threats
U.S. President Donald Trump has officially revealed plans for a sweeping new missile defence initiative known as the "Golden Dome," pledging that it will be operational by the end of his second term in office. The system, designed to counter advanced aerial threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and even space-based attacks, marks one of the most ambitious defence undertakings in recent U.S. history.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump described the Golden Dome as a “next-generation” defence network that would incorporate technologies deployed across land, sea, air, and space. Inspired in part by Israel’s Iron Dome, the U.S. version is envisioned to be far larger in scope and complexity.
"This system will be capable even of intercepting missiles launched from the other side of the world, or launched from space," Trump said, describing a vision that includes space-based sensors and interceptors capable of neutralising threats in their earliest stages.
An initial allocation of $25 billion has been secured through a new budget bill. However, long-term projections suggest the project’s cost could soar to $542 billion over the next 20 years, particularly for its space components, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump has placed the total estimate at around $175 billion.
Experts have raised concerns about the feasibility of such an expansive system. Marion Messmer, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, noted that unlike Israel, which has a compact geography and more predictable threat vectors, defending the vast U.S. territory presents exponentially greater challenges.
Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, told the BBC that the system would likely rely on a vast satellite network to detect missile launches and intercept them using orbital weapons. However, he cautioned that the project's scale, cost, and timeline make completion during Trump’s presidency unlikely. “The military will take it seriously,” he said, “but the cost could consume a large portion of the defence budget.”
The push for the Golden Dome comes amid growing concern from U.S. intelligence agencies. A recent report from the Defense Intelligence Agency warned that missile threats from adversaries such as China and Russia are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are designed specifically to target vulnerabilities in existing U.S. defences.
In one of his first acts upon returning to the White House in January, Trump instructed the Department of Defense to submit comprehensive plans for a modern missile shield, calling aerial threats “the most catastrophic threat” facing the nation.
The new defence system will fall under the command of the U.S. Space Force, with General Michael Guetlein appointed to oversee the initiative.
Interest in the programme has also extended beyond U.S. borders. Canada has expressed a desire to participate, with former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair describing involvement in the dome project as aligned with Canada’s “national interest.”
While the political and financial hurdles remain steep, Trump insists the Golden Dome is essential to protecting the homeland from a rapidly evolving global threat environment. Whether the initiative becomes a reality in his second term or stretches far beyond it, the project signals a dramatic new direction for U.S. missile defence strategy.
Source: BBC
