In plans akin to Ronald Reagan’s failed “star wars” project in the 1980s, Trump said he wants a “layer” of sensors in space to detect missile launches. He added that the technology would be funded by the next budget. The sensors are one of many improvements the Pentagon wants to make to its ageing missile defence system.
The Trump administration also plans to investigate basing interceptors in space, so the US can strike incoming enemy missiles during the first few minutes of flight.
Trump said: “Our goal is simple: to ensure we can detect and destroy any missile launched against the United States, anywhere, any time, any place.”
The plans were outlined in a review that highlighted four countries that pose a nuclear threat to the US – North Korea, Iran, Russia and China.
North Korea was described as an “extraordinary threat”, despite Trump declaring last year that the country was “no longer a nuclear threat” after meeting with its leader Kim Jong-un.
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Trump emphasised in his announcement that space must be recognised as a “warfighting domain”.
This echoed his promise in midterm election rallies to create a new branch of the armed forces – the Space Force.
He said: “We will recognise that space is a new warfighting domain, with the Space Force leading the way.”
His proposals have faced some resistance in the Pentagon, with some high-up officials questioning whether the major reorganisation and cost required would be worth it.
Meanwhile, chairman of Russia’s security committee Viktor Bondarev said Trump’s plans for his new missile defence would increase global tensions.
These new ideas for the US’ missile defence come after the President pulled his country out of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, which bans ground-launch nuclear missiles up to certain heights.
He argued that the treaty was defunct because Russia was violating its terms and other countries like China were free from constraints.
Trump said yesterday: “In the past, the United States lacked a comprehensive strategy for missile defence that extended beyond ballistic missiles.
“Under our plan, that will change. The US will not adjust its posture to also defend against any missile strikes including cruise and hypersonic missiles.”