Canada in Talks With U.S. About ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence, Says Carney
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada is contemplating participation in U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly proposed Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
While addressing reporters at Parliament Hill, Carney mentioned that advanced talks are currently taking place with the United States; however, he declined to offer an estimate of what level of contribution Canada may make towards this significant initiative.
I am aware that we possess the capability, should we decide to do so, to finalize the construction of the Golden Dome through strategic investments and collaborations,” he stated. “This is an option being considered, and discussions about it have occurred at senior levels; however, I’m uncertain whether negotiations occur over such matters. These are military choices made within that framework, and thus our assessment will be conducted accordingly.
Carney cautioned that Canada might face possible missile threats in the “not-so-distant future,” which could originate from outer space.
Following remarks made by Trump the previous day, where he stated that the Canadian government reached out to his administration expressing interest in participating in the $175 billion initiative, and that he would collaborate with Ottawa to make sure they contribute their “ fair share,” these observations have been made.
“Canada has reached out to us, and they wish to be involved,” Trump stated. “We are currently negotiating prices with them, and they are well aware of this.”
If everything mentioned seems somewhat recognizable, it’s due to Canada having faced this intersection previously.
Frank McKenna experienced a feeling of Déjà Vu on Tuesday as Trump claimed that Canada has shown interest in joining the program.
Canada’s ex-ambassador to the U.S. recounted to The Canadian Press his recollection of entering a committee meeting in Ottawa roughly twenty years back—precisely when the foreign minister was trying to alert him via an international call that Prime Minister Paul Martin had opted out of participating with the U.S. on their ballistic missile defense initiative.
However, McKenna stated that the call did not go through. When he proceeded with the hearing, he asserted that Canada was “to some extent” part of the project—an announcement that swiftly escalated into a contentious political controversy.
He mentioned that it made Canada’s ties with the U.S. more complex back then and ignited intense political discussions in Canada.
To be honest, much of my team believed we ought to explore avenues for reaching an agreement with the Americans on certain matters since we found ourselves at odds on numerous fronts,” he explained. “We were engaged in disputes over softwood lumber and other topics.
Our perspective along with my team’s was that this should have been straightforward for Canada, however, it sparked significant opposition from the public within the country and turned rather contentious.
Looking ahead, rejoining U.S. ballistic defense systems is once again at the forefront of discussions.
“I felt somewhat reassured as it seemed like Canada was genuinely taking part in the conversation,” McKenna stated.
McKenna said Trump’s new defence project could help to solve some of Canada’s trade woes with the United States, as Ottawa looks to de-escalate tariffs and renegotiate its trilateral trade pact with the U.S. and Mexico.
“We aren’t ready to decide just yet, but we must get involved and discuss this,” he stated. “This topic ought to be included in wider talks rather than treated as an isolated issue. If we do choose to join the defense shield initiative, it shouldn’t appear to the U.S. as though we’re making concessions.”
However, the leader of an Ottawa-based defense think tank stated that if Canada aims to completely participate in Trump’s “Golden Dome,” it needs to make its choice promptly.
As Canada deliberates over missile defense choices, our tendency has often been to delay and ultimately avoid making definitive decisions,” stated David Perry, President of the Canada Global Affairs Institute. “However, should we aim for full participation as these plans evolve, an important choice must be made promptly.
Canada plays a role in continental defense via Norad by tracking and identifying potential dangers. Although it is capable of handling cruise missile threats, the decision to intercept ballistic missiles remains with the United States.
Perry stated that Canada’s previous reluctance regarding ballistic defense has made it more difficult to join in now.
“I can’t fathom why we didn’t undertake this initiative during the Biden administration, as it would have been far more opportune to engage in discussions about collaborating with the United States at that juncture. Especially considering we had the president visiting and laying out plans to update Norad,” he stated.
Perry mentioned that due to Canada’s initial “no” response to the George W. Bush administration in 2005, the responsibility for addressing a potential missile threat falls under United States Northern Command.
“Our refusal has made things complex regarding Norad’s possible participation, as they would be better suited to handle these matters. However, the U.S. cannot proceed this way since Canada has avoided addressing the defense against that specific type of missile for the past two decades,” he explained.
I’m not sure people truly grasp how utterly irrational it is to think it would be acceptable for Parliament to be destroyed, provided that the explosion specifically occurs at the Peace Tower using a certain kind of missile.
The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on May 21, 2025.
Kyle Duggan from The Canadian Press