The Golden Dome

Dr. Rob Huebert joins today's Expert Series podcast to discuss the implications of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada is exploring participation in the United States' “Golden Dome” defence initiative, unveiled by Donald Trump earlier this week. The Golden Dome, designed to intercept hypersonic, ballistic, and space-based threats, would mark a major expansion of American missile defence capabilities, echoing Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Dr. Huebert explains the technical ambition and geopolitical motivation behind the Golden Dome, contrasting it with Israel’s Iron Dome, noting the far greater complexity required for continental-scale coverage. While Canada has historically abstained from joining U.S. missile defence programs, evolving threats posed by Russia and China mean that Canada's defence posture is under renewed scrutiny.

Huebert suggests that participation in the Golden Dome may now be strategically necessary, despite ongoing concerns about Trump’s remarks about Canadian sovereignty. Canada must exercise caution, but has to realize that it needs to protect itself from the other geopolitical threats, while managing its relationship with an increasingly unpredictable United States.

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