Wed May 28 04:24:38 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
**Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Sparks International Controversy, Canada Caught in the Crossfire**
**Washington D.C.** – Former President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system is facing strong international condemnation, with China, North Korea, and Russia warning it will trigger a dangerous “space arms race.” The controversy comes as Trump publicly pressures Canada to join the project, dangling the prospect of free access if the country becomes the 51st U.S. state.
In a recent TruthSocial post, Trump claimed Canada is eager to join the “fabulous Golden Dome System,” but would have to pay $61 billion as an independent nation. This announcement follows a visit by King Charles III to Canada, during which the monarch emphasized Canadian sovereignty. It also coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s stated desire for Canada to reduce its reliance on the U.S. for weapons through participation in ReArm Europe.
Canada has yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest comments, though previous “high-level” talks on the missile defense system have been confirmed.
Trump estimates the Golden Dome’s total cost at $175 billion, with completion slated for 2029, a timeline many defense experts find unrealistic. He is seeking an initial $25 billion in funding through the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which recently passed the House. This bill has drawn criticism for boosting military and border enforcement spending while cutting funding for social programs.
Modelled after Israel’s Iron Dome, the Golden Dome aims to provide comprehensive missile defense. However, critics question its feasibility given the size difference between Israel and the U.S., as well as the Iron Dome’s focus on short-range missiles, while the primary threat to the U.S. comes from long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
The most significant criticism stems from the plan to deploy weapons in space. China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated the plan “heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield, fuels an arms race, and undermines international security.” North Korea echoed these concerns, accusing the U.S. of trying to “militarise outer space”.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned the Golden Dome would undermine “strategic stability” by creating a global missile defense system and lead to the development of preemptive strike capabilities, potentially turning space into a “weaponized environment.”
The international backlash underscores the potential destabilizing effects of Trump’s proposed system and places Canada in a difficult position, forced to navigate competing interests and pressures from both the U.S. and its allies.
First Piper 