Tariffs Stall Allies in Trump’s Golden Dome Shield
Tariffs under the Trump administration have effectively muzzled early talks with allies on the Golden Dome space-based missile defense shield, as Gen. Michael Guetlein pursues a fast, decades-long deployment schedule that would field a network of space sensors and interceptors by the late 2020s and expand through 2035. The plan hinges on allied participation via NORAD and partners like Canada and Denmark ( Greenland ), but trade tensions have limited dialogue, complicating coordination on basing, sensor sharing, and cost. Congress has already approved a hefty initial down payment ($23 billion) with more funding pending, while lawmakers demand a comprehensive spend plan amid ongoing prototype development for space-based interceptors and a broad-to-remote defense architecture.