• Trump announces a $175 billion missile defense system called the Golden Dome, aiming for operational readiness by 2029.
• The system plans to deploy space-based technologies to intercept missiles from adversaries like China, North Korea, and Russia.
• China criticizes the project, warning it could lead to an arms race and militarization of space.
• Canada is in talks to potentially join the Golden Dome initiative, highlighting significant geopolitical implications.
• The estimated total cost could soar beyond $800 billion, raising skepticism around feasibility and funding.

U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new missile defense initiative known as the Golden Dome, aiming to protect the country against a variety of missile threats, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic attacks. The project will utilize a network of satellites equipped with advanced sensors and interceptors, with an initial investment of $25 billion launched from a total projected cost of $175 billion, potentially ballooning to over $800 billion over two decades, according to various reports, including those from the Jakarta Post, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

Trump emphasized the strategic necessity of the Golden Dome, stating that once operational, it would enhance U.S. deterrence capabilities against threats from nations like China and North Korea. During his announcement, he said the system would “intercept missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and from space,” invoking comparisons to Israel’s successful Iron Dome system. However, critics have raised concerns regarding the project's technical feasibility, financial sustainability, and potential to escalate global tensions, as reported by sources including Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The proposed system has already drawn sharp criticism from China, which labeled the Golden Dome as having “strong offensive implications.” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the initiative undermines international security and risks turning space into a battlefield. “The United States, in pursuing a 'U.S.-first' policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself," she added, echoing sentiments of alarm echoed by Russian officials as well, according to SCMP and India Times.

In response to the growing missile threats from adversaries, the U.S. is also engaging Canada, which has expressed interest in participating in the Golden Dome project. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed ongoing high-level talks regarding potential collaboration, emphasizing the necessity of enhanced military protection given the evolving threat landscape. Trump's administration expects Canada to pay its fair share for the initiative, raising questions about the overall funding structure of the defense system, highlighted by the Hill and Anadolu Agency.

Experts have raised concerns over the practical implications of such a vast and ambitious project, including the massive number of satellites that would be required—potentially thousands—to create a fully functional defense network. Critics note that such endeavors may not only drain U.S. defense budgets but could also provoke further arms proliferation among rival powers as nations strive to outpace one another in military capabilities, as outlined by analyses in Le Monde and TRT Global.