The administrations of US Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have repeatedly asked billionaire Elon Musk over the past few years to enable or restrict access to Starlink satellite internet in various regions around the world. According to Reuters, citing former high-ranking officials, Washington has used direct interaction with SpaceX to address geopolitical tasks, including supporting military campaigns and facilitating anti-government protests.
Washington and SpaceX Interaction Under the Biden Administration
During Joe Biden's presidency, US authorities sent requests to SpaceX several times to influence connectivity in critical hotspots. In particular, US intelligence and relevant agencies asked to disable Starlink terminals in high-risk zones to prevent their use by Iran-backed armed groups in Yemen and Lebanon. Such concerns arose in October 2023 during clashes in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as in 2024 amid the US air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
On the other hand, the Washington administration actively sought to expand network coverage where it aligned with US foreign policy interests. In September 2022, following the outbreak of mass protests in Iran triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, the White House asked to activate the service to support local residents. According to former officials, the administration even helped deliver terminals to the country, and similar requests came from Donald Trump's team following US-Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026.
Situation with Starlink in Ukraine and Restoration of the Military Package
Special attention in the negotiations was paid to the Ukrainian direction, where the Biden administration sought stable activation of the service to meet the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces. At the same time, amid global discussions of satellite infrastructure, local restrictions arose in Ukraine. For the past ten days, the operation of the special military Starlink package was restricted at speeds exceeding 160 km/h, although both Elon Musk and Donald Trump's administration repeatedly stated they had nothing to do with these technical measures.
Today it was reported that military Starlink in Ukraine has fully resumed operations at speeds exceeding 161 km/h. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, stable communication is currently recorded at speeds over 400 km/h, ensuring uninterrupted support for frontline units and maintaining operational coordination.
Significance of the Precedent and the Impact of Private Technology on Geopolitics
Regular appeals by US authorities to a private aerospace company highlight the unique role of critical Starlink infrastructure in modern conflicts and international relations. In effect, the satellite network has transformed into a tool of global diplomacy and national security held in private hands. Such precedents demonstrate that government agencies are forced to negotiate with tech giants as equal geopolitical players, balancing national security concerns, humanitarian tasks, and allied support worldwide.
