Trump says 'Golden Dome' free for Canada - if it joins US
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Canada could join his proposed 'Golden Dome' missile defense system for free -- but only if it becomes part of the United States.
Otherwise it would cost Canada $61 billion to be part of the system, said Trump, who has repeatedly called for the United States' northern neighbor to become the 51st state.
Canada has expressed interest in joining the missile system -- plans for which Trump unveiled last week to defend against a wide array of enemy weapons -- but has firmly rejected any loss of sovereignty.
'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,' Trump posted on his Truth Social network.
'But (it) will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!'
There was no immediate response from Canada to Trump's claims.
Trump announced plans for the 'Golden Dome' system a week ago, saying it would eventually cost around $175 billion and would be operational by the end of his term in 2029.
Experts say the scheme faces huge technical and political challenges, and could cost far more than he has estimated to achieve its goals.
Trump also said at the time that Canada was interested in joining the missile system. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney then confirmed that his country had held 'high level' talks on the issue.
NATO members Canada and the United States are partners in continental defense through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
But the scheme now seems set to add to the tensions that Trump has sparked with Canada.
Carney politely but firmly dismissed Trump's calls for Canada to become part of the United States when he visited the White House earlier this month, saying his country was 'never for sale.'
The Canadian premier and Trump did however appear to smooth over some of the strains over the tariffs that the US president has slapped on Ottawa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Global universities luring US-bound students amid Trump crackdown
UNIVERSITIES around the world are seeking to offer refuge to students impacted by United States President Donald Trump's crackdown on academic institutions, targeting top talent and a slice of the billions of dollars in academic revenue in the US. Osaka University, one of the top ranked in Japan, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants and help with travel arrangements to students and researchers at US institutions that want to transfer. Japan's Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also considering similar schemes, while Hong Kong has instructed its universities to attract top talent from the US. China's Xi'an Jiaotong University has appealed for students at Harvard, singled out in Trump's crackdown, promising "streamlined" admissions and "comprehensive" support. Trump's administration has enacted massive funding cuts for academic research, curbed visas for foreign students, especially those from China, and plans to hike taxes on elite schools. Trump alleges top US universities are cradles of anti-American movements. In a dramatic escalation, his administration last week revoked Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students, a move later blocked by a federal judge. Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, described the impact on US universities as "a loss for all of humanity". Japan aims to ramp up its number of foreign students to 400,000 over the next decade, from around 337,000 now. Jessica Turner, CEO of Quac-quarelli Symonds, a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities around the world were trying to attract students unsure of going to the US. Germany, France and Ireland are attractive alternatives in Europe, she said, while in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile. Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump's crackdown, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledging to "aggressively" crack down on their visas. More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of US colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for US technology companies. International students — 54 per cent from India and China — contributed more than US$50 billion to the US economy in 2023. Trump's crackdown comes at a critical period in the international student application process, as many young people prepare to travel to the US in August to find accommodation and settle in before term starts. Dai, 24, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the US to complete her master's degree but is seriously considering taking up an offer in Britain instead. "The policies (by the US government) were a slap in my face. I'm thinking about my mental health and I may change schools." Students from Britain and the European Union are also more hesitant to apply to US universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications. There has been an uptick in applications to British universities from prospective students in the US, said Universities UK, an organisation that promotes British institutions. It said, however, that it was too early to say whether that translates into more students enrolling. Ella Rickets, an 18-year old first year student at Harvard from Canada, said she receives a generous aid package paid for by the school's donors. However, she is concerned that she won't be able to afford other options if forced to transfer. "Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford. "However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available," she said. If Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students is revoked, she would most likely apply to the University of Toronto, she said. Analytics firm QS said overall visits to its 'Study in America' online guide have declined by 17.6 per cent in the last year — with interest from India alone down over 50 per cent. "If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study," said Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old US student at Harvard, who lives with eight international scholars. Additional reporting by John Geddie The writers are from Reuters
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Pentagon chief irks Singaporeans with Lee-Trump comparison
SINGAPORE (AFP): US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth rankled Singaporeans on Saturday by likening President Donald Trump to the city-state's late founding premier Lee Kuan Yew. In a major speech outlining US strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, Hegseth referred to both leaders as "historic men". "Like the late prime minister, President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interests," he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue which gathers key defence leaders from around the world. Lee, a British-trained lawyer, served as Singapore's prime minister for three decades. Hegseth praised his "sage leadership and strategic vision". "That's what common sense policies can achieve, and that's precisely what President Trump's vision is all about." Lee, who turned Singapore into a high-tech industrial and financial centre, remains highly revered in Singapore more than a decade after his death. Social media erupted with loud and acerbic criticism of Hegseth's comparison. "One is historic, the other is hysteric," said one commenter, while another remarked: "Trump compared to Lee Kuan Yew? That's like saying instant noodles are the same as fine dining." "I felt a tremor just now. Must be LKY rolling hard in his grave," said someone else on social media, using Lee's initials. - AFP
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Pentagon chief irks Singaporeans with Lee-Trump comparison
Pete Hegseth said like the late Lee Kuan Yew, the US president's approach is grounded in common sense and national interests. (AFP pic) SINGAPORE : US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth rankled Singaporeans on Saturday by likening President Donald Trump to the city-state's late founding premier Lee Kuan Yew. In a major speech outlining US strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, Hegseth referred to both leaders as 'historic men'. 'Like the late prime minister, President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interests,' he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue which gathers key defence leaders from around the world. Lee, a British-trained lawyer, served as Singapore's prime minister for three decades. Hegseth praised his 'sage leadership and strategic vision'. 'That's what common sense policies can achieve, and that's precisely what President Trump's vision is all about.' Lee, who turned Singapore into a high-tech industrial and financial centre, remains highly revered in Singapore more than a decade after his death. Social media erupted with loud and acerbic criticism of Hegseth's comparison. 'One is historic, the other is hysteric,' said one commenter, while another remarked: 'Trump compared to Lee Kuan Yew? That's like saying instant noodles are the same as fine dining.' 'I felt a tremor just now. Must be LKY rolling hard in his grave,' said someone else on social media, using Lee's initials.
