Canada should not join Trump’s Golden Dome project

Xiaoming Guo 郭晓明

Trump’s Golden Dome project represents an escalation of the arms race with China and is doomed to fail.

During the Cold War, President Reagan launched the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), nicknamed the “Star Wars” program. It escalated the arms race with the USSR—and it worked. The Soviet economy was crippled by the strain. In the 1980s, when Reagan initiated SDI, the US accounted for 25% of global manufacturing, while the USSR held just 15%. The arms race forced the USSR to devote 20-25% of its industrial capacity to military production, compared to only 6-8% in the US. This disparity lowered living standards in the USSR, fueled public discontent, and ultimately contributed to its collapse.

Trump may seek to replicate Reagan’s strategy, but the roles are now reversed—and so will the outcome. Today, China commands one-third of global manufacturing, while the US has slipped to 16%. An arms race would play directly into China’s hands.

Can Canada assist the US in this arms race? With just 1.3% of global manufacturing, Canada is no longer the industrial powerhouse it was during WWII. Its economy now relies heavily on exporting natural resources to the US. Participating in an arms race wouldn’t strengthen the US; it would only accelerate Canada’s economic decline.

The US is a sinking Titanic, while Canada is a lifeboat. A lifeboat’s duty is to row away from the wreck, not cling to it. Yes, Canada has long been a US ally, but a lifeboat cannot save a doomed ship. Be realistic: prioritize practical actions over symbolic gestures.

Instead of joining Trump’s Golden Dome—a move that harms Canada without aiding the US—Canada should act as a bridge between the US and China, de-escalating tensions. Opting out of the new Cold War against China aligns with the national interests of both Canada and the US.