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US has for years asked Musk to alter Starlink service in Ukraine, Middle East, sources say
Former officials said the White House and Pentagon pressed SpaceX to curb adversaries and expand access for allies, underscoring the company’s role in foreign policy.
- The Biden and Trump administrations have repeatedly asked SpaceX to toggle Starlink access in several countries, using the private satellite network to implement foreign policy, according to six former senior US officials.
- Officials frequently coordinated with SpaceX to thwart adversaries by cutting service and to aid allies by expanding coverage, including initiatives in Iran and Ukraine, former officials told Reuters.
- Democratic Representative Jason Crow called on Friday for clarity regarding recent changes to Ukraine's satellite service, arguing "unelected billionaires and private corporations should not decide what is in the best interest of America's national security."
- Armand Musey, president of Summit Ridge Group, noted the SpaceX CEO is "supposed to be a business executive, with government contracts, and he's essentially making huge foreign policy decisions," raising ambiguity over control.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that intentional limitations on Starshield interfered with the country's military drones, hindering defense against Russian missile attacks.
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US has for years asked Musk to alter Starlink service in Ukraine, Middle East, sources say
Well before the throttling this month of Ukraine's military access to Musk's satellite communications system, the Biden and Trump administrations had several times asked SpaceX to turn its Starlink service on or off in various countries, according to six former senior US officials familiar with the matter.
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left2Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 22%
C 45%
R 33%
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