Fact Check: Is Japan set to partner with US on Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system?

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system is an ambitious proposed national missile defense initiative announced during Trump's second presidency.

It aims to create a comprehensive, layered shield to protect the entire US homeland from a wide range of aerial threats, and potentially even attacks launched from space or from the opposite side of the world.

Recently, a rumor circulated on the social media platform X claiming that Japan is set to partner with the US on Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. But how true is the claim? We'd like to find out below.

Claim: Japan to partner with US on Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system

An X account @remarks came up with a post that read, "Japan to partner with US on President Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system." The viral post also had images of the POTUS and the flag of Japan.

The post garnered more than 20,000 views, and more than 1,400 X users liked the X post at the time of filing this story.

The ambitious project began as the 'Iron Dome for America' via an executive order signed by President Trump on January 27, 2025. It was later rebranded as the 'Golden Dome'.

Moreover, Trump formally announced detailed plans during a May 2025 Oval Office press conference and claimed it would be fully operational before the end of his second term.

Interestingly, the initiative builds on existing US missile defense capabilities but also seeks to expand them dramatically, and is often compared to Ronald Reagan's 1980s 'Star Wars'.

Fact Check: True, several reports back the claim

The claims made in the viral post are true, as several news outlets have reported that Japan is set to partner with the US on Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system.

As per recent reports, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to announce Japan's participation during a bilateral summit with President Trump in Washington on March 19. 

Moreover, reports mentioned that Japan will inform the US next week of its intention to join. Tokyo also expects the US may request help with missile production or co-development to replenish stocks depleted by conflicts.

Furthermore, Japan's motivations include enhancing its own defenses against threats such as hypersonic missiles from China or Russia, while gaining access to advanced US technology. The project also expands ground-based interceptors with space-based elements for detection and tracking. 

These details originate from anonymous Japanese government sources, and were first reported by several reputable outlets on March 13–14. No official denials or contradictions appear in the coverage.