Six former US officials have revealed that the Biden and Trump administrations repeatedly asked SpaceX to activate or deactivate its Starlink satellite communications service in several countries, long before the Ukrainian military’s access to the service was restricted this month.
- Four former officials who served during Joe Biden’s presidency said the requests included shutting down the service to prevent groups allied with Iran in Yemen and Lebanon from using it to communicate.
- The requests also included activating the service to provide internet access inside Iran and in Ukraine, in support of the Ukrainian military as it faced security challenges.
- During the Trump administration, a senior official and another person familiar with the matter asked Musk to make the service available in Iran following US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026, with the aim of improving anti-government protesters’ access to the internet and communications.
- These requests highlight the unprecedented extent to which US administrations rely on a private company such as SpaceX, which owns critical systems used by the US military and its allies, to implement US foreign policy.
- European concerns over restrictions on Starlink use in Ukraine
- The latest restrictions imposed on Ukraine, despite its status as a US ally, have raised concerns among European officials, who believe Europe needs to develop its own military satellite communications capabilities given the lack of a practical alternative in the short term.
