Donald Trump has unveiled his plans for a $175 billion 'Golden Dome' defence system which he says will protect the US from the world's most powerful weapons - provoking fury from China and Russia amid fears it will trigger a global arms race.
Such a defence programme is 'long overdue' and 'absolutely necessary' amid growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia, experts have said in response to Tuesday's announcement.
Moscow and Beijing have both put offensive weapons in space, such as satellites with abilities to disable critical US satellites, which can make America vulnerable to attack.
Beijing has warned that the plan to put US weapons into the earth's orbit for the first time 'heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield, fuels an arms race, and undermines international security.'
Meanwhile Moscow has called for Washington to make contact regarding the programme. Trump said on Tuesday that he had not yet spoken to Vladimir Putin regarding the programme, but would do so 'at the right time'.
