Russia Blasts Trump’s ‘American Iron Dome’ as Space Militarization Plot

Russia condemned the executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to build a missile defense shield. It accused the United States of trying to disrupt the global nuclear balance and set the stage for a military conflict in space.

Trump signed an executive order on Monday that “mandated the process of developing an American Iron Dome,” a next-generation U.S. missile defense shield against ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and other aerial attacks.

The White House stated that the goal was to update an outdated system and deal with a “catastrophic” threat that had grown more complex due to U.S. enemies developing new delivery systems.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that the plan was designed to undermine the ability of Russia and China to exercise nuclear deterrence.

She said the U.S. policy would make it difficult to have talks about nuclear arms control, something both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin said they supported.

Zakharova, at a Moscow press briefing, told reporters that the plan “directly envisages” a significant increase in the American nuclear arsenal as well as means to conduct combat operations in space.

“We view this as another confirmation that the U.S. is focused on turning space into a battlefield of armed conflict… and the deployment of weapons there.

She said, “The indicated U.S. approach will not contribute towards reducing tensions, improving the situation on the strategic front, or creating a foundation for a productive dialog about strategic offensive weapons.”

The White House statement on Iron Dome did not mention a strengthening of the U.S. arsenal but rather said:

The Iron Dome will advance the goals of peace by strength. Iron Dome’s ability to deliver a second strike will help deter enemies from attacking the United States.

Trump and Putin both stated that they would be interested in meeting face-to-face and discussing a variety of issues including the Ukraine War. However, Moscow has not received any indications from the U.S. as to when or where such a meeting could occur.