U.S. President Donald Trump says it would cost Canada US$61 billion to partner in the Golden Dome missile defence system he is planning.
The U.S. president also repeated his previous point that Canada should become a part of the United States, saying America’s northern neighbour could benefit from the project for free if it became the 51st state.
“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on May 27.
“They are considering the offer!”
Global Affairs Canada pushed back on the comment, saying Canada will remain a sovereign nation.
“The Prime Minister has been clear at every opportunity, including in his conversations with President Trump, that Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one,” Global Affairs said in a media statement.
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The department also repeated that Canada is contemplating joining the Golden Dome initiative.
“Canadians gave the Prime Minister a strong mandate to negotiate a comprehensive new security and economic relationship with the United States. To that end, the Prime Minister and his Ministers are having wide-ranging and constructive discussions with their American counterparts,” Global Affairs said.
“These discussions naturally include strengthening NORAD and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome.”
The US$175 billion proposed Golden Dome system, announced on May 20, involves the creation of a network of sensors and weaponry to intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and drones. The U.S. president has said the system is aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia.
Trump first said on May 20 that Canada had expressed interest in the project.
“I guess that’s what I was talking about from day one. You know, it just automatically makes sense, and it won’t be very difficult to do, but they’ll pay their fair share,” Trump said at the time.
The Prime Minister’s Office said on the same day that the government is having “wide-ranging and constructive discussions” with the Americans on defence cooperation, including on the proposed Golden Dome system.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said on May 21 that if it’s in Canada’s “best interest” to cooperate with the Americans on any defence initiatives, his government would do so.
“It’s a good idea to have protection against missiles in place for Canadians from now on. There are threats. There will be threats. There are threats now coming from North Korea, China,” Carney said in French.
“We clearly need to be more proactive, because you know, from the time you see a missile, there’s not much time. So what’s the point of saying there’s a missile? You have 30 seconds to, well, do something about it. That’s not good enough.”
Canada is currently undertaking modernization of its NORAD systems, with tens of billions projected to be required for the upgrades.
Canada has also committed to meet its NATO spending requirements of 2 percent of GDP by 2030, under pressure from the United States.
Noe Chartier and Chandra Phillips contributed to this report.
