Patrycja Bazylczyk defines the Golden Dome as a reorientation of US missile defense policy to counter next-generation threats from near-peer adversaries, Russia and China. The defense, which involves a space component (HBTSS), supports the nuclear triad b

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John Batchelor

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🗓️ 2 October 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

Patrycja Bazylczyk defines the Golden Dome as a reorientation of US missile defense policy to counter next-generation threats from near-peer adversaries, Russia and China. The defense, which involves a space component (HBTSS), supports the nuclear triad by strengthening deterrence through both denial and punishment. She notes that critics argue the program is unaffordable (estimated $175 billion) and destabilizing, but stresses the need for sustained, bipartisan funding to build the necessary architecture.
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Transcript

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0:30.0	This is CBS Eye on the World. Here's John Batchelor.
0:50.0	I welcome Patricia Basilichick, program manager, research associate with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., posting most recently at Civitas Outlook, part of Civitas Institute, the University of Texas at Austin.
0:55.2	This is not only about Golden Dome, but it's a good place to get to start.
0:56.9	I give the backstory.
1:03.8	The Cold War of the 20th century ended as the Soviet Union disintegrated in late 1991.
1:06.9	After that, there was a peace dividend.
1:09.2	I'm talking generally speaking here.
1:14.4	And the period that was then most concerned was the rogue nation that concerned the Pentagon and the war planners a great deal. And developing a defense
1:22.5	from rogue nation getting a hold of a missile that could have a nuclear tip was a priority.
1:28.7	Now, these many decades later, there are two, not one, but two near-peer nuclear-tipped missile-laden
1:38.7	adversaries, Moscow and Beijing.
1:43.2	In addition to that, there are the subpar units,
1:46.8	Pyongyang and Tehran. I could go on, but in any event, you see the scale of how things
1:52.0	have changed. What is to be done? Now we come to the Golden Dome, the President's metaphor
1:57.5	for a defense of the Western Hemisphere, perhaps.
2:02.3	Patricia, a very good day to you. I set the backstory because I want to plunge right into
2:07.5	where we are now. Is it defending the Western Hemisphere? Is it defending North America?
2:13.5	Is it defending America? Have they settled on that in Washington? Good evening to you.
2:19.4	Thanks, John, for having me.
2:21.2	Really looking forward to speaking with you on this important topic.
	...

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