US has asked Musk to change Starlink services in Ukraine, Middle East for years, fears misuse
The Biden-era and Trump requests to Musk show a close relationship in which US administrations rely to an unprecedented degree on a private-sector company to help implement foreign policy.
For years, the United States has been requesting changes from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding his Starlink satellite communications services in countries like Ukraine and the Middle East, driven by concerns over potential misuse. During Joe Biden's presidency, the administration sought to disable the service to hamper Iranian proxy militias in Yemen and Lebanon, as well as to provide internet access in Iran and Ukraine to bolster military capabilities.
Similarly, the Trump administration requested Musk to make the service available in Iran to support anti-government protesters following US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026. These earlier requests have now come to light, exposing a close relationship between US administrations and Musk's company, SpaceX, in implementing foreign policy.
The recent restrictions imposed on Ukraine's access to Starshield, the military version of the Starlink system, have raised questions about the ties between the US government and Musk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has alleged that his country's Starshield access has been intentionally limited, impacting the performance of military drones and reducing internet speeds for defense against Russian missile attacks.
The Biden administration claims responsibility for throttling Starshield, but has not disclosed whether it ordered the slowdown. Ukraine's embassy in Washington has called for the restoration of the service at normal speeds, emphasizing the critical role it plays in the country's frontline communication. SpaceX and Musk have maintained that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, with decisions on speed and usage made by the US military and ultimately the president.
Critics argue that US dependence on SpaceX raises risks and questions about the influence of unelected billionaires and private corporations over US national security.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
