U.S. President Donald Trump spoke from the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo
Canada is now in talks to become a part of the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defense program. A spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that discussions are ongoing. The talks cover a broad range of topics, including both security and trade between the two countries.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Canadians gave Prime Minister Mark Carney a strong message. They want him to build a new, stronger relationship with the United States. The goal is to make North America safer and better connected. This includes looking at joint military programs like the Golden Dome.
Golden Dome: What It Is
The Golden Dome is a large defense system planned by the U.S. It aims to protect North America from long-range missiles. These could come from faraway countries or even from space. U.S. President Donald Trump shared new details about the program on Tuesday. He said the system will act as a shield to keep North America safe.
Trump added that the program is not just for the U.S. He said Canada has already reached out to join the effort. “Canada has called us and they want to be a part of it,” Trump stated. “They want to have protection also, so as usual, we help Canada.”
Costs and Timeline
President Trump said the Golden Dome project would cost around $175 billion. He believes it will be ready before his term ends in 2029. Trump also said the U.S. will work with Canada to make sure both countries pay a fair amount.
“We are dealing with them on pricing,” he added. “They know about it very much.”
However, Canada has not yet shared how much it plans to invest. The Prime Minister’s Office did not give any details about costs. Still, there are signs Canada is ready to spend more on defense.
Canada’s Current Defense Spending
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Carney said Canada would spend $6 billion on a new radar system. This project is being done with Australia and is meant to help detect threats early. That investment was already part of a 2022 plan to update Norad, the joint U.S.-Canada air defense system.
Canada’s recent election platform also included over $18 billion for national defense. Policy experts say this puts the country on track to go beyond NATO spending targets by 2030.
Trump Praises Canada’s Efforts
During Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to Washington, Trump praised Canada. He said the country is now more involved in military planning and called this a good step forward.
Golden Dome Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome
The Golden Dome is based on Israel’s “Iron Dome” system. That network protects Israel from short-range attacks and has been very successful. The U.S. hopes to build a larger, more powerful version that can defend the entire continent.
