Fabian Hoffmann
This week, Donald Trump announced plans for a major buildup of U.S. missile defense capabilities. This is not entirely surprising, as he repeatedly stated during the campaign that the United States should develop its own “Iron Dome,” referencing Israel’s well-known missile defense system designed to protect against smaller projectiles such as artillery shells, mortar rounds, and rockets.
Of course, unless U.S. border cities were under threat from Canada or Mexico, an Iron Dome-like system would serve little purpose. However, Trump’s plans are far more ambitious, focusing on “next-generation aerial threats,” including ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, as well as proposals for “space-based interceptor” systems and advanced “terminal phase intercept” capabilities.
Trump’s broader missile defense agenda includes additional initiatives that are not worth detailing individually. The key takeaway is that his envisioned missile defense posture would go beyond the current capability of defending against small-scale or accidental nuclear attacks. Instead, it aims to counter large-scale nuclear strikes, including full-scale “countervalue” attacks targeting American cities.
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