‘China will eat them up’: US slams Canada for rejecting ‘Golden Dome’

US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised Canada for rejecting his proposed 'Golden Dome' missile defence system and Canada's growing economic relationship with China, warning that the partnership would backfire on them quickly.

Trump said Canada is risking North American safety by rejecting the Golden Dome. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote, "Canada is against The Golden Dome being built over Greenland, even though The Golden Dome would protect Canada,” he wrote. “Instead, they voted in favour of doing business with China, who will ‘eat them up’ within the first year!”

What is the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system?

The ‘Golden Dome’ is a multibillion high-tech missile defence shield proposed by the United States over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, to create a protective bubble over North America. Its key purpose would be to spot and stop advanced threats like ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

As per an AP report, Golden Dome is likely to include ground- and space-based capabilities to detect and counter missiles at “all four major stages of a potential attack: detecting and destroying them before a launch, intercepting them in their earliest stage of flight, stopping them mid-course in the air, or halting them in the final minutes as they descend toward a target”.

The financial commitment for the Golden Dome is staggering. The Trump administration estimates the project will cost about $175 billion. However, a report from the Congressional Budget Office suggests the real cost could be much higher, with just the space-based components potentially costing anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over 20 years.

Trump has said it will be operational before his term ends in 2029.

Tensions escalate between US and Canada

The US president’s public criticism highlights a serious disagreement between the two neighbouring countries. The dispute comes at a sensitive time, as the US faces growing strategic competition with China.

The conflict flared up after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent trip to China, which led to new trade deals, making it easier for Canada to sell farm products and for Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market. While Trump had earlier called such deals acceptable, he is now using them as part of his criticism.

Trump’s attack also followed remarks from Carney at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. He suggested that America's dominant role in the world is fading and that it was time for a "new global order" to take shape.

In Davos, Trump pushed back, arguing the Golden Dome would automatically shield Canada at no cost. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, be defending Canada,” he explained. He also suggested Canada was not appreciative of US support, adding, “Canada gets a lot of freebies from us. They should be grateful.”

Trump also took a direct shot at the Canadian prime minister during the forum. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he warned.

Back in Canada, Carney offered a strong reply, rejecting the idea that Canada depends on the US for its existence. “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” he stated, emphasising his country's independence while also acknowledging the value of the partnership.

While in Davos, Carney had spoken out against large countries pressuring smaller ones, a comment seen as a jab at Trump. Upon his return, he added that Canada can prove that "another way is possible" for countries to operate in a world with growing authoritarian influence.

The feud escalated further when Trump withdrew an invitation for Carney to join his "Board of Peace," a new group led by the US to address global conflicts. This move was widely seen as punishment for Carney's critical statements and his refusal to align with US demands on defence and trade.

This isn't the first time Trump has challenged Canadian sovereignty. He has often suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state and has even shared manipulated maps showing Canada, Greenland, Venezuela, and Cuba as American territories.