Washington: US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised Canada for opposing the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence project planned over Greenland, warning Ottawa against strengthening ties with China at the expense of its relationship with the United States. In remarks posted on his social media platform Truth Social and later reiterated at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Trump said the Golden Dome would also protect Canada and accused its leadership of failing to appreciate America’s strategic and security support.
The dispute has intensified following Canada’s recent trade agreement with China. On January 17, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new deal with Beijing, saying it would open markets worth about 7 billion dollars for Canadian businesses and workers. The agreement included Canada reducing its 100 percent tax on Chinese electric vehicles, while China cut tariffs on Canadian canola exports from 84 percent to 15 percent. Carney’s comment that China now appeared to be a more reliable partner than the US reportedly angered Trump.
The Golden Dome is a next-generation missile defence system being developed by the United States, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but far more advanced. The project aims to protect the US from ballistic and cruise missile attacks by detecting threats early and destroying them either before launch or mid-flight. The system will rely on a network of land-based and space-based interceptors, with the possible use of laser weapons in space, marking a major shift in modern air and space defence strategy.
Trump has estimated the cost of the Golden Dome project at 175 billion dollars, though the Congressional Budget Office has warned that expenses could rise to as much as 500 billion dollars due to its complexity. The system is intended to counter threats from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. While China and Russia have criticised the plan, calling it destabilising, Trump has said the project could be operational within three years and claimed that Canada has shown interest in joining the initiative.