Trump Unveils the New Missile Defense Playbook – Plus a Throwback to Space Wars
Washington, Jan 17 – President Donald Trump dropped a brand‑new missile‑defense memo at a Pentagon press briefing that points a finger at North Korea, builds a cautionary tale around Iran and straps a whole new arsenal of space‑based gadgets to the U.S. shield.
North Korea Still a “Threat” – Despite Trump’s Out‑of‑Body Claim
During the pamphlet reveal, Mr. Trump bragged, “Our goal is simple: to detect and destroy any missile launched against the United States – anywhere, anytime, any place.” He avoided naming the Korean threat, but Acting Secretary Patrick Shanahan quickly slammed it as a “significant concern.” The report, eyes wide and paint on its face, says:
- “While a possible new avenue to peace exists with North Korea, it continues to pose an extraordinary threat and the United States must remain vigilant.”
Meanwhile, Kim Yong Chol is slated to land in Washington for talks with Secretary Pompeo, and fans of Trump hope a second truce summit with Kim Jong‑Un might be announced. Trump’s tweet after the 2018 summit famously declared, “No longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.” Reality? Definitely a different kind of skittish.
Space‑Based Sensors: Star Wars 2.0?
Trump’s memo nods to a 1980s “Star Wars” vibe by proposing a new line of experiments tapping into space tech. Stacked on top of that are space‑based sensors that can spot missiles like a hawk, and undeniably, “hypersonic” technology that China’s been cooking up.
- “We will protect the American people from all types of missile attacks.”
- “In the past, the United States lacked a comprehensive strategy that extended beyond ballistic missiles. Under this plan, that will change.”
- “We are committed to establishing a missile‑defence programme that can shield every city in the United States.”
Iran on the Radar – Largest Ballistic Fleet in the Middle East
The memo flags Iran’s missile cadre as a standalone threat and hints at an ICBM potential:
“Iran possesses the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East… Its desire to have a strategic counter to the United States could drive it to field an ICBM.”
Trump’s stance? No limits on missile‑defence development swaying American targets, pre‑ or post‑launch.
Ground‑Based Foil – The GMD System
“The GMD system is designed to defend against the existing and potential ICBM threat from rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, but in the event of conflict, it would defend, to the extent feasible, against a ballistic missile attack upon the US homeland from any source.” Thus, the Giants of Green: the Ground‑Based Midcourse Defense stands ready.
Russia’s Not‑So‑Friendly Reaction
Russia’s Viktor Bondarev noted that the U.S. strategy would amplify global tensions. The PIB and other names from the Pentagon have been drums a drum about Beijing’s hypersonic gear making missiles “far harder to detect and destroy.”
In plain words, Trump’s new plan is a chorus of “we’re on it” and a wink to the old space‑war time. Whether it will keep the world at peace or keep it on the brink, only time will tell – but the U.S. just added a few more satellites to its missile‑deflection toolbox.
