Canada interested in missile defense system but rejects loss of sovereignty, while Trump ups pressure with $61 billion entry fee.
May 28, 2025: President Donald Trump has offered Canada free participation in his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system—but only if the country joins the United States as its 51st state.
Without statehood, Trump says Canada would have to pay $61 billion to become part of the program, unveiled last week as a defense against a wide range of enemy threats.
“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 wrote on Truth Social. “But (it) will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!”
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Canada Pushes Back on Sovereignty
Canada has signaled interest in the missile defense system but has firmly rejected any loss of sovereignty. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed “high level” talks with the US but insisted that Canada is “never for sale.”
So far, Canada has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks.
Experts Skeptical of Trump’s Plan
Trump’s plan, estimated at $175 billion and slated to be operational by the end of his term in 2029, faces huge technical and political challenges. Experts say costs could skyrocket beyond his estimates.
Also Read: Trump Challenges US-Canada Border Treaty, Wants to ‘Revise Boundaries’
Canada and the United States are already partners in continental defense through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), but Trump’s statehood demand has added fresh tension to the relationship.
Carney and Trump did find some common ground during a recent White House meeting, smoothing over earlier strains over US tariffs on Canadian goods. But the Canadian prime minister made it clear: while his country is interested in defense cooperation, it is not prepared to join the United States.
Tags:
Donald Trump, Golden Dome missile defense, Canada missile system, 51st US state, Canada-US relations, Mark Carney, NORAD, missile defense plan