President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will develop new technologies — including in space — to acquire unrivaled missile-defense capabilities and maintain an advantage over adversaries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
His comments were part of the results of a U.S. missile-defense review — the first since 2010 — that Trump unveiled at the Pentagon on January 17.
Speaking after acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Trump said the U.S. goal was simple: “that we can detect and destroy” any incoming missile launched against the United States “anywhere, any time, any place.”
Trump mentioned increased threats from hypersonic and cruise missiles with upgraded abilities that Washington needs to counter.
He said his call for an expanded missile-defense system would better protect the United States.