President Donald Trump's plan to put weapons in space, called the "Golden Dome for America" missile defense program, is estimated to cost much more than he originally said. A new Congressional Budget Office analysis, released Tuesday, suggests the cost could be $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years, significantly higher than the $175 billion Trump mentioned last year. The system, inspired by Israel's "Iron Dome," aims to detect and intercept missiles at all stages of an attack. Congress has already approved about $24 billion for the initiative. Trump ordered the system during his first week in office, expecting it to be operational before his term ends in January 2029.
President Emmanuel Macron is updating France's nuclear deterrence doctrine as Europe worries about Russia and doubts U.S. protection under Donald Trump. On Monday, Macron will speak at a French submarine base and signal how France thinks about using nuclear weapons. The war in Ukraine and Russia's nuclear threats have shaken Europe's security assumptions. Analysts say some Europeans are looking to France for a backup nuclear guarantee. France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. Macron last laid down policy in 2020 and said France has fewer than 300 warheads. Experts are listening for any stronger promise to protect allies.
