Trump proposes Space National Guard and ‘Iron Dome’ for US defense

Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish a national guard for the Space Force and to implement a U.S.-based missile defense system modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome. This proposal was made during a speech at the National Guard Association of the U.S. conference held in Detroit on Monday.

During the address, Trump highlighted the Space Force, which was formed in 2019 as the sixth branch of the U.S. military and aimed at safeguarding American interests in space against threats from countries like Russia and China. He regarded the creation of this military branch as one of the significant accomplishments of his administration.

“One of my proudest achievements in my first term was to create Space Force, the first new branch of the armed forces in over 70 years; it’s a big deal,” Trump stated. He aligned with the leadership present at the conference, asserting that the time was ripe to establish a Space National Guard as the principal reserve force for the Space Force.

This statement elicited applause from the audience, prompting Trump to express his gratitude. He committed to signing “historic legislation creating a Space National Guard” during a potential return to office. He emphasized the critical importance of the Space Force and how it has transformed the U.S. position in the arena of space exploration and defense.

Trump criticized the pre-existing state of U.S. capabilities in space, claiming the country was being “destroyed” in that domain before the establishment of the Space Force. He argued that since its creation, the U.S. has regained its leadership in all key measurements related to space activities.

The former president’s remarks come on the heels of the Biden administration’s proposed measures in April to incorporate Air National Guard members into the Space Force. In March, the Defense Department sought congressional approval to bypass a law that mandates state governors to greenlight changes to National Guard personnel, which would enable hundreds of members to transition to the Space Force.

This proposal, which could affect approximately 1,000 Air National Guard personnel, faced fierce opposition from most U.S. governors and numerous lawmakers, leading to a stalemate in reaching a solution regarding this reserve service.

In addition to the Space National Guard, Trump reiterated his commitment to constructing a missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, which effectively intercepts short-range missiles. He cited the need for such a protective measure, drawing attention to trends in global hostility.

“And we’re going to build a great Iron Dome for missile defense around our nation,” Trump declared, referencing the existing technology that is now available compared to years past. He termed this initiative as an establishment of “the greatest dome of them all,” targeting growing threats he perceives internationally.

While some experts have noted that a proposed system would differ from Israel’s, they also expressed concerns about the financial implications and effectiveness of the system against short-range missiles. Some analysts have suggested focusing on an enhanced missile defense shield that integrates different protective technologies already in place.

Trump also took the opportunity during his speech to criticize President Biden and Vice President Harris for what he termed a “collapse of American credibility and respect,” particularly in the context of the recent history in Afghanistan. He referenced the anniversary of a terrorist attack at Kabul airport that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and many Afghan civilians.

He described the withdrawal from Afghanistan as “the most embarrassing day in the history” of the United States, suggesting it has had severe ramifications, including contributing to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and attacks on Israel due to a perceived lack of respect for the U.S.

Trump’s remarks reflect his ongoing emphasis on national defense strategies and his criticism of the current administration’s foreign policy approaches.

Source: The Hill