U.S. President Donald Trump has thrust the world into a new phase of missile defence politics, unveiling an audacious plan for a high-tech, multi-domain defence shield dubbed the “Golden Dome.” Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, this next-generation system is designed to counter the rapidly evolving threats of ballistic, cruise, hypersonic, and space-launched missiles. But while Trump touts the Golden Dome as a historic investment in homeland security, critics warn it could reshape global power dynamics, trigger a fresh arms race, and become a fiscal black hole.
Announced from the Oval Office, the Golden Dome will rely on a network of space-based sensors, orbital interceptors, and advanced radar systems across land and sea to detect and neutralize incoming threats. The scope is unprecedented. Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which protects a small geographic area from short-range rockets or the S-400 missile system seen during Operation Sindoor, the U.S. plan aims to shield the entire continental landmass—including attacks launched from space or the other side of the globe.
“The most catastrophic threat facing the United States remains aerial attack,” Trump declared, calling the Golden Dome “a leap into the future of national defence.” The initial budget proposal earmarks $25 billion, but the Congressional Budget Office suggests long-term costs could soar to $542 billion over 20 years, especially for the space-based components.
Strategically, the move responds to sobering assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency, which warns that adversaries such as China and Russia are designing weapons specifically to exploit vulnerabilities in current U.S. missile defences. Systems like hypersonic glide vehicles and FOBS (fractional orbital bombardment systems) are explicitly designed to bypass traditional detection and interception capabilities.
Yet for all its ambition, the Golden Dome raises critical feasibility concerns. The U.S. faces an immense challenge in defending a landmass over 100 times the size of Israel, across a vastly more complex range of attack vectors. Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, notes that the system will likely rely on thousands of satellites operating in concert to detect and intercept missile threats in real time—a technological feat that remains largely theoretical.
“Israel’s missile defence challenge is a lot easier than one in the United States,” added Marion Messmer of Chatham House. “You’re talking about a much more expansive and unpredictable threat environment.”
Nonetheless, the Pentagon appears aligned with Trump’s urgency. Space Force General Michael Guetlein has been appointed to oversee the initiative, reflecting the growing role of space in modern warfare. A centralised command structure is expected to streamline decision-making and funding allocations as the system is built out.
International reaction has been swift—and tense. China voiced strong opposition to the plan, arguing it carries “strong offensive implications” and escalates the risk of militarising space. At a Beijing press conference, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the U.S. for “obsessing over absolute security,” warning that such moves undermine global stability and could spark a destabilising arms race. Russia, too, is expected to issue its own condemnation, viewing space-based missile defence as a threat to its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Canada, meanwhile, has signalled interest in joining the Golden Dome project. Former defence minister Bill Blair said earlier this year that participating in the initiative aligns with Canadian security interests—a move that could usher in a new layer of North American defence cooperation, while also complicating diplomatic ties with China.
Beyond geopolitics, there are domestic implications. The Golden Dome’s immense price tag will inevitably draw scrutiny from Congress and fiscal watchdogs. With the U.S. already shouldering record debt, critics question whether a half-trillion-dollar project can be justified, especially given the uncertain success rate of such cutting-edge technologies.
Still, Trump remains defiant. “We cannot afford to wait until the threat is at our doorstep,” he said. “Golden Dome will ensure that the United States remains unchallengeable in the skies—and beyond.”
As the first hardware contracts are expected to be issued later this year, the Golden Dome stands as a potent symbol of how the Trump administration sees national security in the 21st century: expansive, space-based, and uncompromising. But in pursuing technological dominance, the U.S. may have just reignited a global contest it had hoped to prevent.
