India-Pakistan Missile Conflict Spurs Trump’s Golden Dome Shield

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Trump Unveils $175 Billion Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield, Appoints Space Force General to Lead

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, May 21, 2025 – US President Donald Trump announced a $175 billion initiative to develop the “Golden Dome,” a cutting-edge missile defence system. The announcement came close on heels of missile defence shield gaining spotlight in India-Pakistan conflicts.

The Golden Dome Missile Defence Shield envisions protecting the United States from long-range threats, including those from China and Russia. Trump had first proposed the program in his first term. Critics have slammed the project for its excessive cost burden.

The ambitious program aims at integrating space-based and terrestrial defence technologies. It will be led by US Space Force General Michael A. Guetlein.

Speaking at a press conference, Trump emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “The Golden Dome will protect the US from long-range missiles, including those launched from space or other continents, and will integrate with current defence systems.”

He described the project as a “revolutionary step” to ensure national security in an era of escalating global tensions, particularly with adversaries like China and Russia.

The Golden Dome concept envisions a multi-layered defence shield capable of intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, and other advanced threats. The initiative builds on existing systems like the Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) and the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence.

It also aims to incorporate space-based interceptors and artificial intelligence for real-time threat assessment. Trump’s announcement came amid China speeding up military advancements, including its development of hypersonic missiles, and Russia’s continued reliance on nuclear deterrence.

Trump’s decision brings in focus on space as a critical domain for missile defence program. It may also spur a competitive use of space for military purposes.

As the Vice Chief of Space Operations for the US Space Force, Guetlein has been instrumental in advancing space-based capabilities, including satellite surveillance and missile warning systems.

Laura Grego, a physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed skepticism about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the Golden Dome. Speaking to NPR, she noted, “Such systems can track and intercept short and medium-ranged missiles but struggle against larger, more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles of the sort used by Russia and China.”

Conversely, Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, sees potential in the initiative. Speaking to CNN Politics, Karako said, “It’s a welcome development and it’s, in some respects, overdue. The wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine show why missile defence is needed. Non-nuclear missiles have become a go-to weapon, and Golden Dome could serve as a powerful deterrent.”

The announcement also sparked debate over the involvement of private companies, particularly SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. CNN Politics reported that Musk’s proximity to Trump has raised concerns among Democrats, with some urging the Defence Department’s inspector general to investigate potential conflicts of interest in contract awards.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that developing a viable Golden Dome could cost over $500 billion over 20 years, adding to the financial scrutiny.

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