US President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a multi-layered missile defence system dubbed the “Golden Dome,” drawing immediate criticism from China, which warned the initiative could destabilise global security and fuel an arms race.
Speaking from the White House on Tuesday, Trump said the United States would allocate $25 billion in initial funding for the system, which he claimed would be operational within three years and eventually cost around $175 billion. He described the project as vital to America’s survival, boasting that it would be capable of intercepting missiles launched from anywhere on Earth — even from space.
“In the campaign, I promised the American people I would build a cutting-edge missile defence shield,” said Trump. “Today, I am pleased to announce we have officially selected architecture for this state-of-the-art system.”
The plan is set to be led by US Space Force General Michael Guetlein, and Canada has reportedly shown interest in joining the project.
The system, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, will utilise next-generation land, sea, and space technologies, including space-based sensors and interceptors, Trump said. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth added that the aim was to shield the homeland from a wide range of threats including ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, drones, and both nuclear and conventional attacks.
However, China condemned the plan on Wednesday, calling it a “grave threat to international security.” Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the project risked turning space into a battlefield and accused the United States of prioritising its own safety at the expense of others.
“The United States puts its own interests first and is obsessed with seeking its own absolute security,” she said. “This plan heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield, fuels an arms race, and undermines international security.”
China’s warning follows a joint statement with Russia earlier this month, in which both nations slammed the concept as “deeply destabilising” and a violation of global arms control norms.
The “Golden Dome” system appears far more ambitious than Israel’s Iron Dome, which has successfully intercepted thousands of short-range projectiles. In contrast, the US plan is aimed at defending against long-range threats from countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, as well as growing threats from drones and non-state actors.
Trump’s estimate of $175 billion stands in contrast with the Congressional Budget Office’s projection, which puts the cost of a space-based interceptor system between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades.
The United States has gained operational experience in missile defence in recent years, particularly through its support of Ukraine’s defence against Russian attacks and its role in intercepting projectiles in the Middle East.
