OTTAWA 鈥 The Canadian military has been talking with American officials about participating in the U.S.-led Golden Dome missile defence system for the past “few years,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday, as he argued the country needs better protection against evolving threats from countries like North Korea, Russia and potentially China.聽
Despite the ongoing threats to Canada’s economy from President Donald Trump‘s trade war, Carney said the federal government will still co-operate with the U.S. when it makes sense for the Canadian national interest聽鈥 including possible military co-operation on ballistic missile defence.聽
Trump announced details of his planned Golden Dome defence system on Tuesday, which the White House said would cost $243 billion, take three years to build, and include installations on land, water and in space to shoot down incoming missiles that might get fired into the country.聽
Donald Trump announces he's selected final 'Golden Dome' space missile defences that would cost billions. (AP Video / May 20, 2025)
Trump also revealed for the first time that Canada was talking to the U.S. about participating in the system, which Carney’s office confirmed, marking the latest sign that Canadian policy on shared ballistic missile defence with the U.S. was shifting since former prime minister Paul Martin rejected taking part in 2005.聽
Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill Wednesday evening, Carney said Canada faces missile threats, including from weapons that could fire them from space “in the not too distant future.” That’s why Canada has been considering taking part in the U.S. Golden Dome, he said, despite tensions with the Americans over trade and Trump’s expressed desire to annex Canada.聽
He also said in French that discussions on the Golden Dome have been going on “for a few years” between Canadian and American military and security officials. Carney said he has also spoken with Trump “some discussions” about the “concept” of the Golden Dome as well, adding that “it is a good idea” to have protections against missile threats from North Korea, Russia and possibly China in the future.聽
The question, he said, was whether Canada would build missile defence systems alone, or in partnership with the U.S.聽
“We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments and partnership,” Carney said, declining to name a dollar figure.聽
“It is something that we are looking at, and something that has been discussed at a high level. But I’m not sure one negotiates on this. These are military decisions that are then taken in that context. And we will evaluate it accordingly.”聽
Repeatedly over the past months, including through the election campaign in which his party won a minority government on April 28, Carney has spoken about how the U.S. is trying to “break” Canada so it can “own us.” He has also said Canada’s previous relationship with the U.S. is “over,” and embarked on discussions over a new economic and security arrangement with Canada’s largest trading partner and military ally.聽
On Wednesday, Carney said those statements don’t clash with possible co-operation with the Golden Dome, since what has changed is the long-term trend of “deepening integration,” rather than a rift that would prevent working together in the future.聽
“We are in a position now where we co-operate when necessary, but not necessarily co-operate,” Carney said.聽
He said Canada has other options for partnerships, noting the ongoing review of the federal government’s previous plan to purchase F-35 fighter jets from American company Lockheed Martin, as well as possible participation in the European Union’s military rearmament program.聽
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