Trump’s Golden Dome: Missile Defense, Realist Doctrine, and Global Reactions

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On May 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald J. Trump launched a sweeping defense initiative dubbed the "Golden Dome," a next-generation missile defense system aimed at shielding the entirety of the United States from ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats. Drawing from Israel’s acclaimed Iron Dome, this multi-billion-dollar project is proposed to include an integration of ground-based interceptors, space-based sensors, advanced radar, and laser technologies. The Golden Dome not only represents a technological leap but also carries deep strategic implications, especially when viewed through the lens of international relations theories.

This article offers an academic dissection of the Golden Dome initiative, contextualizing it within the realist doctrine of "peace through strength," while also examining contrasting perspectives from liberal and constructivist schools of thought. Moreover, it analyzes how America’s allies and global institutions may perceive this development in the shifting matrix of 21st-century geopolitics.

Realist Foundations: Peace through Strength revisited

Realism, one of the core theories in international relations, posits that the international system is anarchic and driven by power politics. States are considered rational actors who seek to maximize security and survival. The doctrine of "peace through strength," long associated with realist thought and echoed during the Reagan era, finds renewed expression in the Golden Dome.

Trump’s defense strategy suggests that overwhelming defensive capability will deter aggression from adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. According to proponents of realism, strategic stability is best preserved when rivals perceive that their offensive actions will fail or incur unacceptable costs. By constructing an impenetrable defense infrastructure, the United States aims to shift the balance of power decisively in its favor.

Further, the Golden Dome represents an extension of America's military-industrial strategy into outer space, a domain increasingly viewed as the next frontier for geopolitical dominance. As argued by Mearsheimer (2001), offensive realism contends that great powers are compelled to seek regional hegemony and control over key strategic domains. The deployment of space-based interceptors would effectively make the U.S. the first nation to operationalize missile defense on a planetary scale.

Technological Capabilities and Strategic Scope

The Golden Dome project integrates cutting-edge technology. Initial reports suggest the system will include

 (i) Space-based interceptors: Capable of intercepting missiles during their boost phase.

 (ii) High-energy lasers: Positioned on land and in orbit for rapid neutralization of airborne threats.

 (iii) Advanced radar arrays: offering global missile detection and real-time threat assessment.

 (iv) Artificial intelligence systems: for automated threat prioritization and adaptive responses.

In operational terms, this could render legacy missile arsenals ineffective. Trump described the Golden Dome as a "shield that will protect every American city from attack, whether from Earth or space." Strategic experts, however, warn that the system’s ambition far exceeds current technological capabilities, and its effectiveness remains speculative until fully tested.

Liberal Rebuttals and Constructivist Critique

Liberal internationalism emphasizes cooperation, international institutions, and the role of diplomacy in managing global security. From a liberal perspective, the Golden Dome may be counterproductive.

First, it risks undermining existing arms control agreements such as the New START Treaty, which limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads. By creating a defense architecture perceived as unbreachable, the U.S. might encourage rivals to develop more sophisticated and numerous offensive weapons to bypass or overwhelm it. This dynamic could lead to an arms race, reminiscent of Cold War-era escalation.

Second, critics point to the opportunity costs of such a massive financial investment. The initial $25 billion allocation is projected to balloon to over $500 billion, although some experts argue it may cost far less. Liberal theorists argue that such funds could be better utilized for enhancing global development, conflict prevention, and multilateral peacekeeping efforts.

Furthermore, the project might weaken global disarmament norms and non-proliferation initiatives. As noted by Keohane and Nye (1977), interdependence and institutional cooperation are key to sustainable peace. By focusing solely on militarized security, the U.S. may be undermining the collaborative frameworks it once championed.

Constructivism, on the other hand, brings a different lens to the analysis. This school of thought focuses on how state behavior is shaped by ideational factors, such as identity, culture, and norms.

Constructivists argue that the Golden Dome reinforces a U.S. identity centered around militarization and exceptionalism. By framing peace as achievable only through overwhelming strength, the project sustains narratives that justify unilateralism and the marginalization of diplomatic efforts. Although the current Trump-led US administration has been at the forefront of advancing global peace, from the DR Congo's M23 intractable imbroglio to the recent India-Pakistan standoff, the ongoing efforts to break the deadlock in Russia-Ukraine and many other similar moves are believed by experts to puncture this narrative.

Moreover, the inclusion of space-based weaponry poses significant normative challenges. Outer space has long been considered a global commons, governed by treaties like the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space. While the Golden Dome does not necessarily violate these provisions directly, it does blur boundaries and may provoke other states to reconsider their space policies.

Constructivists also highlight the potential for norm erosion. The normalization of preemptive defense technologies might make future conflicts more likely, as the line between defensive and offensive capabilities becomes increasingly ambiguous.

Allied Reactions: Support, Concern, and Strategic Calculations

Allied reactions to the Golden Dome are expected to be mixed and highly contingent on regional security dynamics.

(a) NATO Allies: European partners such as the UK and Germany may support the initiative in principle but harbor concerns about strategic stability and potential arms races. Some may demand assurance that Europe will be integrated into the system or advocate for parallel European initiatives.

(b) Israel: A strong supporter, given the parallels with its own Iron Dome and long-standing defense cooperation with the U.S.

(c) Japan and South Korea are likely to endorse the project as it provides deterrence against North Korea and China. These allies may seek integration or hosting of system components.

(d) GCC States: May view the project as a potential tool to deter Iranian missile threats and could request inclusion or technology transfers.

(e) Global South and NAM Members: Likely to express skepticism or criticism, viewing the project as exacerbating global inequality in security and reinforcing U.S. hegemony.

(f) Multilateral institutions: Bodies such as the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Conference on Disarmament may raise concerns about the implications for arms control and the demilitarization of space.

Potential Global Impacts and Peace Implications

Whether the Golden Dome fosters or undermines global peace remains an open question. On the one hand, the system could serve as a stabilizing deterrent, discouraging missile attacks and enhancing homeland security. On the other hand, it may lead to a deterioration of strategic stability by encouraging adversaries to develop countermeasures.

The initiative also sets a precedent for the weaponization of space, potentially igniting a new dimension of the arms race. In response, other powers might pursue similar capabilities, leading to a multipolar space-security competition. Additionally, the Golden Dome may further entrench the militarization of international politics, reducing the appetite for diplomatic conflict resolution and cooperative security arrangements.

Conclusion

Trump's Golden Dome initiative is a bold reassertion of the realist doctrine of peace through strength. It reflects a belief in technological superiority as the ultimate guarantor of security in an increasingly volatile world. However, from the vantage of liberal and constructivist paradigms, the project raises fundamental concerns about strategic stability, global norms, and the future of international cooperation.

The challenge ahead lies in balancing the pursuit of national security with the preservation of international peace and legal order. As the Golden Dome evolves from a political statement to a military reality, its implications will undoubtedly shape the contours of global politics for decades to come.

References

Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. New York: Norton.

Keohane, R. O., & Nye, J. S. (1977). Power and Interdependence: World Politics in Transition. Boston: Little, Brown.

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): https://www.un.org/disarmament/

Times of India (2025). "Trump launches $500 billion 'Golden Dome' missile defense plan."

The Debrief (2025). "America’s Golden Dome: What to Know About the Next-Gen Missile Defense System."

El Pais (2025). "Trump lanza el proyecto Cúpula Dorada."

Economic Times (2025). "Golden Dome to guard US from 'anywhere, even space'."