Author: Shruti Dasgupta

Trump’s Cosmic Ambition

Ronald Reagan once dreamed of shooting missiles out of the sky from space. In the 1980s, critics laughed while scientists balked at his mission. The cost of research as well as the program itself was enough to fizzle out Reagon’s “Star Wars” initiative. But Donald Trump 2.0 just hit the replay button – with steroids.

Trump’s “Golden Dome” isn’t about lasers anymore – It’s about weaponized satellites, AI-powered sensors, and full-spectrum global interception.

Think of Israel’s Iron Dome but for an entire planet from space. Trump promises it will intercept missiles launched “from the other side of the world or even from space.” His defense allies, including SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Palantir, are lining up to cash in. This time, the technology might work. And if it does, it changes everything.

China’s Nightmare

China’s response has been predictably furious. Foreign ministry officials accuse the US of “pursuing offensive capabilities under the guise of defense” and “violating the Outer Space Treaty.” The Golden Dome project is a Space War disguised as a project. In Beijing’s view, the Golden Dome is a declaration of orbital dominance. And the CCP feels it will threaten global strategic balance. Here’s why China is panicking:

The Golgen Dome isn’t just a shield; it’s a sword in disguise.
A US space-based missile defense means Beijing’s ICBMs could become useless.
Hypersonic tech? China’s pride? Neutralized mid-air, mid-space.

Mao Ning, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, bluntly said the system “openly expands space-based combat capabilities.” In short: if the USA attempts to actualize the Golden Dome, China will want one of its own to counter USA’s threat. And the Chinese may just add lasers to it in order to showcase their dominance of the space.

Trump might just have triggered the Chinese-American orbital Cold War 2.0!

Russia’s Calculation

Russia has faced the USA’s space race in its Soviet era. They know exactly how such a goad can drain resources. Thus, this time Russia hasn’t issued fiery threats. However, don’t mistake silence for submission. Moscow called Golden Dome a “compelling reason for urgent nuclear arms control dialogue.”

That’s Russian Diplomatic Code for: “We’re building our countermeasures too.”

This time, if the Dome is successful, Moscow might leverage cyber warfare, space jammers, or anti-satellite missiles to keep the Golden Dome blind and vulnerable. Also, expect Moscow to use the Dome as leverage. Talks, deals, delays – all fit very comfortably in Putin’s playbook.

India’s Silent Chess Game

India hasn’t made a formal statement – but it’s watching, calculating, and planning. India’s cost-efficient space programs are the very reason it shall be courted by all nations. The Chandrayaan-3 and the Space Dogfight showcased right before Operation Sindoor were examples of Bharat’s space brilliance. But, India has reason to be concerned about the USA’s plans:

If China enters the Golden Dome race, it will change Asia’s power balance.
If the USA successfully monopolizes space defense and offense, India would be reduced to a second-tier power and vassal.
If weaponized satellites become the norm, India would have to empty its coffers to support ISRO’s programs. Thereby, facing economic slowdown and internal security issues.

India has advanced missile defense systems (like the Phase-II BMD), a space command structure, and a growing satellite fleet. It also recently tested anti-satellite weapons. But here’s the twist: India may benefit from joining the American orbital alliance, just like it did with Quad.

Expect India to hedge:

Increase collaboration with the U.S. in defense tech.
Quietly build its own orbital deterrents.
Push for a new global space treaty before it’s too late.

The Billion-Dollar Sky

The Golden Dome project could go down as Trump’s most expensive—and explosive—legacy. $175 billion is just the start. Congress hasn’t even approved the first $25 billion. Defense contractors are drooling. Elon Musk, Palantir, Anduril – all want a piece of the orbital pie. The Pentagon says these systems are “missions never accomplished before.”

But let’s be clear: the Golden Dome isn’t just about national defense.

It is about who owns the ultimate high ground – the space. The Dome isn’t just a shield. It’s a throne. And the first nation to sit on it might control the centuries to come.

Can America Afford It

Let’s talk dollars and the US debt. As of 2025, the U.S. is choking on $35 trillion in national debt. Interest payments alone will soon cross $1 trillion annually. That’s more than the entire US defense budget during the Obama administration.

And Trump wants to add another $175 billion sky shield on top?

The first installment of $25 billion, whichfaced resistance in Congress, was recently passed in the “Big, Beautiful Bill”. However, fiscal conservatives are calling it “Reagan’s ghost with a credit card.” Progressives want that money for healthcare, education, and climate tech. So how will America pay for it?

By borrowing more from China or Japan ironically? But, apart from the Middle East – no one else will sponsor the USA’s space dreams.
By cutting social programs? That has already begun – Education and Medicare funds are facing the axe!
Or by unleashing the military-industrial complex and letting billionaires bankroll it in exchange for orbital contracts?

Sure, Musk and Lockheed might jump in. But private funding doesn’t come without private interests. And in space, that means privatized power, not public protection. This Golden Dome may protect America from missiles. But it won’t protect it from debt default.

Final Frontier Just Got Dangerous

What began as a defense proposal is now a planetary power play. With the Golden Dome, Donald Trump may have lit the fuse for a full-blown space arms race. The technology is real. The ambition is global. And the consequences? Cosmic.

But there’s a darker truth: America might win the skies and lose the ground beneath its feet.

While Americans figure out how to fund Trump’s projects, the world is preparing for space militarization at an accelerated pace once the project begins. Get ready world. The next war may not be fought on Earth – but just above it.