Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, May 21: In a bold move with far-reaching strategic implications, U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping new missile defense initiative dubbed the "Golden Dome," promising unparalleled protection against global and space-based threats.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump declared that the advanced missile shield—expected to cost $175 billion—will serve as a cornerstone of America’s national defense. He claimed the system would be operational within three years.
"Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space," said Trump, adding, "We will have the best system ever built."
The ambitious defense project will feature a complex architecture integrating land, sea, and space-based interceptors, coupled with cutting-edge sensors and tracking technologies. U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations, has been appointed to oversee the execution of the mega project.
According to the President, $25 billion has already been allocated for the initial phase of the project in the upcoming year’s defense budget.
Trump also revealed international interest in the initiative, stating that Canada has "called and wants to be a part of it." While he did not elaborate on the nature of the cooperation, it signals potential global collaboration in the ambitious American endeavor.
For months, Trump has advocated for a missile shield modeled on Israel’s Iron Dome. Addressing Congress in March, he called for immediate funding to realize a “state-of-the-art Golden Dome” to defend the American homeland.
Shortly after taking office in January, Trump signed an executive order mandating the creation of what he called “The Iron Dome of America.”
Despite Trump’s optimism, defense analysts have expressed concerns over the feasibility of the project, given the vast geographic scale of the United States. Experts point out that replicating Israel’s Iron Dome on a scale suitable for the U.S.—a country more than 400 times larger—is an extraordinary challenge both technically and logistically.
Nonetheless, Trump remains firm in his belief that the Golden Dome project is essential for the country’s future. “It’s an evil world out there,” he stated, stressing the urgent need for a robust national defense.
As the project moves forward, all eyes will be on the Pentagon and the Space Force as they attempt to turn what some consider a military moonshot into a reality.