 "US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Canadian PM earlier in May said his government is talking to the US about joining the Golden Dome missile defence program. AFP")
US President Donald Trump has offered to let Canada join the US’ Golden Dome missile defence shield for free.
However, there’s a catch. Canada has to become “the 51st state” to do. Else, it has to pay the US a large sum of money.
Trump’s statement came just hours after King Charles in a speech said Canada was facing “unprecedented dangers”.
“Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them”, Charles, who remains head of state of Canada, said.
The king reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty, saying the “True North is indeed strong and free.”
But what did Trump say? Can he really build a golden dome without Canada? And what is Ottawa saying?
Let’s take a closer look:
What did Trump say?
Trump, taking to social media, has said that Canada can join the US’ proposed Golden Dome programme.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.
Trump is essentially offering Canada a quid pro quo – free protection under the Golden Dome in exchange for giving up its sovereignty.
Trump further claimed that Canada was in fact mulling it over.
“But (it) will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!”
The multi-layered, $175 billion system would for the first time put US weapons in space.
Trump has said he wants the system to be fully operational by 2029 – the end of his second term.
However experts have warned that this may not be feasible due to the technological challenges in putting together such a project.
They have also warned that the price tag might be much bigger than Trump thinks.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has said just the space-based components of the Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years.
What is Canada saying?
Canada has outright rejected Trump’s proposal to Join the Golden Dome for free in exchange for its sovereignty.
“Canada is a proud, independent country and has no plans to give up its sovereignty,” the Prime Minister’s Office was quoted as saying by CTV.
Carney earlier in May said his government is talking to the US about joining the Golden Dome missile defence program.
Time Magazine quoted Carney as saying he wasn’t going to “put a price tag” on it.
“We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments and partnership.”
“Is it a good idea for Canada? Yes, it is a good to have protections in place for Canadians,” Carney said.
Carney confirmed he’s had talks with Trump about it and said there are discussions with senior officials.
“It’s something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level.” Carney said. “But not I’m not sure one negotiates on this. These are military decisions that have been taken in that context, and we will evaluate it accordingly.”
Carney warned that Canada faces potential missiles threats in the “not-too-distant future” that could come from space.
“Is Canada going to be doing this alone or with the United States? Because with a Golden Dome, there will be discussions that could have an impact on Canada, but Canada wouldn’t be a part of them,” Carney said.
Carney, while visiting Trump at the White House, insisted that Canada’s sovereignty is “not for sale.”
“It would really be a wonderful marriage,” Trump told Carney.
“It’s not for sale, it won’t be for sale – ever,” the Canadian Prime Minister responded.
“Never say never, never say never,” Trump said.
So, what now? Can the US go Just don’t have to keep the child in Canada it alone?
Can Trump build Golden Dome without Canada?
US officials think not.
They say Canada – with its four million square miles of territory — will need to play a critical role in the proposed Golden Dome missile defence shield.
It must be noted that Canada and the US are already long-time defence allies under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad).
Norad provides for a shared defence of airspace over the two nations.
According to Time Magazine, Canada said in 2022 had vowed to spend around $28 billion over the next two decades to modernise Norad.
As per Politico, Canada’s airspace gives the United States’ sensors a crucial line of sight to shoot down missiles from China and the United States.
“What Canada really brings is terrain,” Glen VanHerck, a retired Air Force general who led the US Northern Command until last year, told the outlet. “If we can position, or Canada positions, over-the-horizon radars further north in the Arctic, that dramatically increases the United States and Canada’s ability to see over the pole into Russia, into China and other places.”
“It will be very important where Canada decides to put its over-the-horizon radar,” said a Senate GOP aide, who was granted anonymity to talk about closed-door policy talks. “It would be much more difficult without Canada.”
“What we really want them to do is to contribute to the production of those assets and to be willing to host them, if necessary, within Canadian territory,” added Tory Bruno, the president and CEO of United Launch Alliance.
“There’s a lot we just don’t know,” Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Conservative member of Canada’s parliament, told Politico. “There’s a lot that needs to be revealed about how the economic and security partnership with America and Canada will unfold.”
With input from agencies