Canada is prepared to join US President Donald Trump’s proposed development of an “Iron Dome” missile defence shield, Defence Minister Bill Blair said on Thursday.
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Blair, in a call with reporters at the end of a trip to Washington, said Canada was already an “essential partner” in the joint protection of North America, through Nato and the Norad joint air defence programme.
“Frankly, an integrated missile defence system for all of North America is the thing that makes sense to everybody,” he said, rather than having it stop at the US-Canada border.
“And we’ve been able to demonstrate that we are a ready and willing partner, and that we have a great deal to contribute to the alliance.”
Trump last week signed an executive order to start planning for an “Iron Dome” air defence system for the United States, like the one Israel has used to intercept thousands of rockets.`
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He ordered an implementation plan for the “next-generation missile defence shield” designed to guard against ballistic, hypersonic and advanced cruise missiles, including through the development of space-based interceptors, within two months.