Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada may contribute to the U.S. Golden Dome project to boost national security, as part of initiatives to ramp up defence partnerships.
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a $175 billion missile defence shield, dubbed the Golden Dome. He said he has selected a design for the project, which is aimed at protecting the country from threats by China and Russia.
Carney told reporters in a May 21 news conference from Parliament Hill that his government would consider joining if the initiative is in Canada’s best interest.
“When it is in Canada’s interest, first best interest, to cooperate with the Americans, to strike deals with the Americans, relationships, and particularly in examples like ballistic missile defence, that may be the best option. And if so, we will pursue that,” he said in response to a reporter’s question about the Golden Dome project.
The prime minister said that the defence shield would have an impact on Canada and Canada should play a part in the discussions to determine its role.
“We clearly need to be more proactive [in missile interception], because you know, from the time you see a missile, there’s not much time,” he said in French during the conference.
Carney also said that he would be considering other defence opportunities for Canada.
“We have been discussing with our European partners becoming a full partner of ReArm Europe, SAFE Europe, different acronyms for a major relationship that we can have that gives us diversification, new partners, new options, better value for money, potentially more domestic Canadian economic benefits,” he said.
He said that he takes the threats Canada faces seriously, and will work to protect the country.
“We take our responsibilities as a government seriously,” Carney said. “It’s one of the reasons why we made the commitment back in March for the over-the-horizon radar.”
“We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments in partnership. And it’s something that we are looking at, and something that has been discussed at a high level,” he said.
Carney did not say how much the country might spend if it was part of the project.
Trump discussed the project from the Oval Office on May 20, saying Canada had expressed an interest in joining the project, adding the country would “pay their fair share.”
The project involves creating a network of sensors and weaponry, both on Earth and in space, that could intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and drones.
Carney’s office confirmed Canada’s interest in the project in a statement, saying the prime minister had been given a “strong mandate” to negotiate a new security and economic relationship with the United States.
The statement released to media also said that discussions between Canada and the United States included “strengthening NORAD and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome.”
Noé Chartier and Reuters contributed to this article.
