Canada should not join Trump's Golden Dome project

Q:  Do you want Canada to pay the US to be in Trump's Golden Dome defence project? Apparently Trump wants us to help.

A:

No. Trump’s Golden Dome project is an escalation of the arms race with China, and is doomed to fail.

During the Cold War, President Reagan deployed the Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed the Star Wars program. It was an escalation of the arms race with the USSR. It worked. The arms race crippled the economy of USSR. In the 1980s, the time Reagan started the Star Wars program, the US had a quarter of the world's manufacturing while the USSR had only 15% of the world's manufacturing. The arms race made 20-25% of the USSR industry the military industry, while only 6–8% of the US industry was the military industry. So the arms race lowered the living standard of the USSR, brewing grievances in the USSR, and finally brought down the USSR.

Trump may want to repeat Reagan’s strategy. But the position reversed, and the result will reverse. Today, China has one-third of the world’s manufacturing while the US has only 16%. Trump’s arms race plays into China’s hands.

Can Canada help the US in the arms race? Canada has only 1.3% of the world‘s manufacturing. It is not like WWII when Canada had a strong manufacturing base. Canada today has a staple economy, feeding the US with natural resources. Canada cannot help the US in the arms race, but it will bankrupt its economy faster.

The US is a sinking Titanic, while Canada is a small life-saving boat. The life-saving boat should paddle fast away from the sinking Titanic, not stick with the Titanic. Yes, Canada is a long-time ally of the US and friendly with the US. But a life-saving boat cannot save the sinking Titanic. Be realistic. Do something effective for friends and allies. Not just a political show that helps nothing.

Canada can save the US by being the bridge between the US and China, de-escalating their conflict and confrontation. Quitting the new cold war against China is the best strategy for the national interests of Canada and the US.

Joining Trump’s Golden Dome cannot help the US but damage Canada.