[Text/Observer Network Qi Qian] US President Donald Trump has launched a high-profile "Golden Dome" plan, but he realized a problem: the "Golden Dome" cannot work without Canada.

On May 27 local time, Trump posted on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social," setting a price for Canada's participation in the "Golden Dome" missile defense system and once again issuing a threat of "annexation."

"I have made it clear to Canada that if they remain an independent but unequal country, joining our amazing 'Golden Dome' will require $61 billion," Trump wrote. "However, if they can become the 51st state we cherish, the cost will be zero."

According to Trump's claim, Canada is "considering this proposal."

Screenshot of Trump's post

According to CBC reports, later, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Carney's office responded, stating that federal government officials are discussing security-related issues with the United States, including the "Golden Dome" and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). However, the spokesperson pointed out that during every conversation between Carney and Trump, "he has clearly stated that Canada is now and will continue to be an independent sovereign nation."

The Financial Times pointed out that the United States and Canada have already signed a NORAD defense agreement. This agreement covers ballistic missile attack detection, and as the Arctic Circle becomes a new frontier for geopolitical competition between the United States and China and Russia, Canada's role has drawn attention.

CBC mentioned that Trump's latest post marks his first issuance of a "51st state" threat since meeting with Carney at the White House Oval Office on May 6. This move may reignite tensions between the United States and Canada. Just days earlier, US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra had stated that the "annexation" threat had ended, saying, "I didn't talk about it, and neither did Trump."

On the same day, King Charles III of the United Kingdom delivered a speech highlighting Canada's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Carney pledged that the Canadian government would join an important European defense restructuring plan. Carney told the media that he hopes Canada can join the "rearmament of Europe" plan before July 1 to reduce its dependence on US weapons and ammunition.

In March this year, Canada reached an agreement worth approximately $4.2 billion with Australia to jointly develop an advanced Arctic radar system.

Last week, Carney told reporters that discussions regarding Canada's participation in the "Golden Dome" project "have taken place at a high level," but he would not "give specific costs" to measure its involvement. He said, "I'm not sure if negotiations can take place. We are aware that if we wish, we have the ability through investment and cooperation to complete the 'Golden Dome' project."

"This seems to be a negotiation strategy; Canada will never pay $6.1 billion," Richard Shimoka, an expert at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, told the Financial Times. "The idea carries immense technical risks and lacks precision; there are significant risks involved. The system resembles a space exploration program, and US domestic political and fiscal support is also very unstable."

On May 20, Trump announced the construction of the "Golden Dome" at the White House - Visual China

In January this year, Trump first ordered the launch of the so-called "Golden Dome" plan, aiming to build a satellite network for detecting, tracking, and intercepting incoming missiles. The defense system could deploy hundreds of satellites for missile detection and tracking tasks.

On May 20, Trump announced at the White House that he had selected a design scheme for the $17.5 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense system and appointed General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force as the chief project manager for this plan. Reports suggest that this plan is widely regarded as the cornerstone of Trump's military plan, aimed at countering what he calls threats from China and Russia.

On the 22nd, Stephen Whiting, commander of the US Space Command, added fuel to the fire at a forum in Chicago. He hyped up the so-called "space threat" posed by China as becoming increasingly "real and urgent," and the "Golden Dome" is a response to this threat.

Foign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded on the 21st, stating that the so-called "Golden Dome" plan aims to construct a globally unconstrained, multi-layered, multi-domain missile defense system. The plan openly proposes a significant increase in outer space combat means, including the development and deployment of orbital interception systems, with strong offensive characteristics. It violates the principle of peaceful use advocated by the Outer Space Treaty and will exacerbate the militarization of outer space and the risk of an arms race, undermining the international security and military system.

Mao Ning stated that the United States adheres to the principle of "America First," obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself, violating the principle that countries' security should not be diminished, and harming global strategic balance and stability. China expresses serious concern over this and urges the US to abandon the development and deployment of the global anti-missile system as soon as possible, enhancing major-country strategic trust and maintaining global strategic stability through concrete actions.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7509336203775230515/

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