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President Donald Trump has announced the development of a sweeping new missile defense initiative dubbed the “Golden Dome,” a multibillion-dollar system designed to shield the U.S. from next-generation threats, including hypersonic and space-launched missiles.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a design has been selected for the futuristic "Golden Dome" missile defense system, which he says will be operational by the end of his current term. The system is intended to protect the U.S. from advanced aerial threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and other next-generation weapons.
Just days after returning to the White House in January, Trump directed the Department of Defense to develop plans for a comprehensive missile defense system. He described such threats as “the most catastrophic” facing the United States.
The Golden Dome will incorporate cutting-edge technologies across land, sea, and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors. Trump said the U.S. would invest $25 billion initially, with total costs projected to reach $175 billion—though other government estimates suggest it could exceed $500 billion over two decades.
The program will be led by Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who is currently serving as vice chief of space operations.
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the Golden Dome is envisioned as a far more expansive system. It would be capable of neutralizing a broad array of threats, such as hypersonic missiles and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS), which can deliver warheads from space. Trump claimed the system will be able to intercept threats from anywhere in the world and achieve near-perfect accuracy.
During a press event in the Oval Office, Trump confirmed that Canada had expressed interest in joining the initiative. Former Canadian defense minister Bill Blair previously stated that participation in the project aligns with Canada’s national security interests, particularly with regard to threats in the Arctic.
U.S. defense officials have emphasized that the Golden Dome will provide multi-layered protection, targeting threats before launch, during flight, and at various stages of deployment. The entire system will be centrally commanded to ensure rapid response and coordination.
Trump has tied initial funding to his broader One Big Beautiful Bill, which is still pending in Congress. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office has warned that the costs could balloon significantly, particularly for the space-based elements of the program.
“There’s really no system right now,” Trump said. “There are certain capabilities, but nothing comprehensive. This will be a game-changer.”
A recent report from the Defense Intelligence Agency supports that concern, warning that countries like China and Russia are actively developing missiles designed to bypass current U.S. defenses.
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
Ukraine is monitoring “unusual activity” along its border with Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement released on Saturday (2 May). He warned that Kyiv is ready to respond if necessary amid continued regional tensions linked to Russia’s war.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is set to visit Armenia in early May to take part in the 8th European Political Community Summit, in what will be the highest-level Turkish visit to the country to date. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly expected to miss the forum.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to the Vatican and Italy this week for a series of meetings, according to Italian media reports, in a visit that comes amid strained relations between Washington and parts of Europe and heightened tensions involving Pope Leo XIV.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
Germany has said a planned reduction of U.S. troops should push Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence, as concerns grow in Washington over the impact of the move on regional security.
Malian authorities have launched an investigation into suspected soldiers accused of involvement in coordinated attacks on military bases carried out by militants linked to al Qaeda and separatist Tuareg rebels on 25 April 2026.
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