It has been almost a year since President Donald Trump signed an executive order promising to build what he then called an Iron Dome for America, to shield the country from drones and missiles. The project, whose name has been gaudified to Golden Dome, is not as outlandish as it sounds. Missile threats are multiplying. In recent wars Ukraine, Israel and India have all demonstrated the value of robust anti-missile defences that save lives, protect infrastructure and buy time for leaders to make better decisions. But the scope of Mr Trump’s shield remains dangerously vague. If that does not change, it could simply become a costly and destabilising white elephant.
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