Jamnagar on Rubio's two-day itinerary: Musk mellows on Reliance, ‘appreciates’ post

Elon Musk's recent stance on Starlink access to India has shifted to a more conciliatory tone, following his heated exchanges on social media platform X. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India and plans to tour Reliance Industries' largest oil refinery owned by Mukesh Ambani, Musk's tone appears to have softened. In response to Reliance Industries' statement on Friday, Musk expressed his appreciation for the company's response, stating on X: "Much appreciated."

Reliance Industries affirmed that they welcome competition in satellite communications, including Starlink, and emphasized the need to abide by local laws and policies. Meanwhile, Starlink responded, highlighting their collaboration with Indian regulators, industry, and operators over the past five years to build a secure and reliable network.

Eutelsat OneWeb, also backed by Sunil Bharti's Reliance Jio, and Musk's Starlink have already received licenses to operate in India, catering to remote areas where ground infrastructure for broadband is not feasible. This move is seen as part of India's growing ties with the United States, encompassing various factors such as trade agreements and the potential threat of tariffs on Russian oil imports.