CTV: Canada in talks to join US Golden Dome missile defence program

Canada is in discussions to join the United States’ ambitious new missile defence initiative known as the Golden Dome, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) shared with CTV News.

The PMO confirmed that Canadians had given Prime Minister Mark Carney “a strong mandate to negotiate a comprehensive new security and economic relationship with the United States.” As part of those broader bilateral negotiations, Canada and the U.S. are holding talks on a range of defence topics, including the Golden Dome project, as per Caliber.Az.

“These discussions naturally include strengthening NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome,” said the PMO statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump first unveiled key aspects of the Golden Dome missile shield on May 20, emphasising the strategic necessity of Canadian participation. “Canada has called us and they want to be a part of it,” Trump said during a press briefing. “They want to have protection also, so as usual, we help Canada.”

Trump said the system, which he claims will be capable of intercepting missiles from around the globe — including threats launched from space — is projected to cost $175 billion and be completed before the end of his second term in 2029. He added that negotiations with Canada will include financial contributions to ensure Canada pays its “fair share.”

“We are dealing with them on pricing. They know about it very much,” Trump said on May 20.

While the PMO declined to comment on how much Canada might invest, sources pointed to recent Canadian commitments as evidence of its growing defence posture. In March, Prime Minister Carney announced a $6-billion investment to develop an early warning radar system in partnership with Australia. This spending had already been earmarked in Canada’s 2022 plan to modernize the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad).

In addition, the Liberal Party’s 2025 election platform pledged over $18 billion in national defence spending. According to policy experts, this puts Canada on track to exceed its NATO defence spending target by 2030. Trump appeared to acknowledge this progress during Carney’s recent visit to the White House, stating, “Canada is stepping up the military participation.”

For the record, Trump’s Golden Dome project was originally a 2024 campaign pledge, modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome system — a short-range missile defence network designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells within a 4 to 70-kilometre range. While Israel’s system is tactical and localized, the U.S. version is envisioned as a comprehensive continental shield, extending from terrestrial to orbital threats.

The inclusion of Canada, a founding partner in Norad and close U.S. defence ally, would mark a major step in hemispheric missile defence cooperation — and a significant policy shift for Ottawa, which previously opted out of the U.S. ballistic missile defence program in 2005.

By Khagan Isayev