Ottawa:
Canada is ready to join the development of the “Iron Dome” missile defense shield proposed by President Donald Trump, Defense Minister Bill Blair said Thursday.
In an appeal with reporters at the end of their trip to Washington, Blair said Canada is already a “essential partner” in North America’s joint protection through the NATO and NORAD joint air defense program.
“Frankly, an integrated missile defense system for everyone in North America makes sense for everyone,” he said.
“And we were able to demonstrate that we are ready and happy partners and have a great deal of contributing to the alliance.”
Last week, Trump signed an executive order to launch plans for an “Iron and Door” air defense system for the United States, as Israel used to intercept thousands of rockets.
He ordered an implementation plan for the “Next-Generation Missile Defense Shield,” designed to protect ballistic, high-sonic and advanced cruise missiles, including the development of space-based interceptors within two months.
The proposal encourages criticism of the expected costs and is not suitable for defense against Intercontinental missiles, a major danger to the United States, due to the fact that the system is designed for short-range threats.
Blair’s comments about the extension of US-Canadian military cooperation comes as the country faces deep tensions over Trump’s threat of imposing sudden tariffs.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published by Syndicate Feed.)
