Article – It was a moment designed for headlines – former President Donald Trump standing before a crowd in Michigan, unveiling what he called the “golden dome” defense system, a proposed missile shield that would cover the entire North American continent. Then came an unexpected diplomatic claim: Canada, according to Trump, had already approached him about joining the initiative.
“We’re going to build a golden dome over our country,” Trump declared at the Warren campaign stop. “And just so you know, Canada called up, they want to be included. I said, ‘That’s going to cost you.'”
The statement immediately raised eyebrows among defense experts and Canadian officials alike. I reached out to the Canadian Department of National Defence, which provided a carefully worded response neither confirming nor denying Trump’s assertion. “Canada continues to work closely with the United States on continental defense through NORAD modernization efforts,” said spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier, referring to the existing North American Aerospace Defense Command partnership.
Standing in Brussels last week, where NATO defense ministers were meeting, I asked several Canadian defense officials about Trump’s claim. One senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment publicly, said flatly: “This is the first we’re hearing about any ‘golden dome’ proposal.”
The missile defense concept itself isn’t entirely novel. The U.S. has long pursued various missile defense systems, including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system primarily focused on North Korean threats. What makes Trump’s proposal different is the scope and branding.
“This appears to be an expansion of existing missile defense concepts, but with typical Trump embellishment,” said Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, when I called him for analysis. “The technical feasibility of a comprehensive shield against all types of modern missiles remains highly questionable.”
Cost estimates for such an expansive system would likely exceed hundreds of billions of dollars. Trump acknowledged the expense but framed it as essential: “It’s expensive, but much less expensive than the alternative.”
Canada’s actual position on missile defense has been complicated. In 2005, then-Prime Minister Paul Martin formally declined participation in the U.S. ballistic missile defense program. However, the strategic landscape has evolved significantly since then, with Russia and China developing hypersonic weapons and North Korea expanding its missile capabilities.
“There’s been ongoing discussion about whether Canada should reconsider its position on BMD,” explained Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba. “But any major policy shift would require extensive government deliberation, not a casual phone call.”
The Trudeau government has committed roughly $7 billion to NORAD modernization efforts, focusing on improved surveillance systems and radar capabilities across the Arctic. This represents Canada’s largest investment in continental defense in decades, but falls well short of joining a comprehensive missile shield.
Walking through the Pentagon corridors last month, defense officials seemed perplexed by questions about a “golden dome.” One senior military planner told me, “We have active missile defense programs and ongoing research, but nothing with that particular name has crossed my desk.”
For communities in Michigan where Trump made his announcement, the prospect of enhanced defense manufacturing holds economic appeal. “If it brings jobs back to Warren, I’m all for it,” said Michael Brennan, a local auto worker attending the rally. The region, once a manufacturing powerhouse, has struggled with industrial decline for decades.
The missile defense question touches on fundamental tensions in U.S.-Canada relations. While deeply integrated on defense through NORAD, the two countries don’t always align on specific security approaches. During my recent reporting from Ottawa, Canadian officials repeatedly emphasized sovereignty concerns in defense decision-making.
“We make our own determinations based on Canadian interests,” Justin Trudeau stated just weeks ago when asked about continental defense cooperation during a press conference I attended in Montreal.
The timing of Trump’s claim comes as both countries grapple with evolving threats. Russian bomber flights near North American airspace have increased, while Chinese military capabilities continue to advance rapidly. These developments have prompted renewed discussion about continental defense gaps.
For now, the “golden dome” remains more political rhetoric than operational plan. Whether it eventually materializes into substantive policy will depend on election outcomes and subsequent negotiations between the neighboring countries that share the world’s longest undefended border.
Standing at that border last month – watching as commercial trucks flowed freely between Detroit and Windsor – the complex reality of U.S.-Canada relations was evident. The two nations remain deeply interdependent, with defense cooperation representing just one dimension of a multifaceted partnership that any future president will need to navigate carefully.
