Key facts
- US administrations under both Trump and Biden asked SpaceX to control Starlink service in various countries.
- Requests included turning off service to prevent Iranian proxy militias in Yemen and Lebanon from using Starlink.
- Requests also included activating service in Iran and Ukraine to support anti-government protesters and military operations.
- SpaceX stated it works closely with US government agencies to support national security and foreign policy goals.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have repeatedly asked Elon Musk's SpaceX to control the Starlink satellite service in various countries, according to former US officials. These requests included activating the service in Iran and Ukraine to support protesters and military operations, and deactivating it to prevent Iranian proxy militias in Yemen and Lebanon from using it. The US government's reliance on private companies like SpaceX for foreign policy implementation has been highlighted by these actions. The recent limitations on Ukraine's military access to Starshield, the military version of Starlink, have raised questions about the relationship between the US government and Musk, especially as Ukraine considers developing its own satellite communications capabilities.