Elon Musk’s Starlink Empowers Ukraine Amidst Crisis, Raising Global Concerns
During the 2022 Russian invasion, Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, came to Ukraine’s aid by providing crucial communication support amid outages. However, concerns are mounting globally over Musk’s significant influence on the technology.
Countries, including Ukraine, have reached out to the United States to assess the billionaire entrepreneur’s power, owning companies like Tesla, Inc, X (formerly Twitter), and SpaceX. With over 4,500 Starlink satellites in orbit, Musk holds 50% of all satellites currently in use, raising worries about his potential to sway global politics.
Military and political leaders are uncertain about Musk’s political allegiances due to his unpredictable personality. His vast access to real-time global economic data through Tesla, Starlink, and Twitter adds to the unease.
The unique scale of what Musk has achieved with Starlink makes it challenging for other companies or governments to compete. During the conflict, he reportedly imposed restrictions on Starlink access, impacting battlefield strategies and declining activation near Russian-controlled territory.
Last year, Musk’s proposed “peace plan” for the war aligned with Russian interests, further fueling concerns. Many nations have privately engaged with American officials about Starlink, expressing unease over Musk’s influence, but few are willing to voice their apprehensions publicly due to potential repercussions in their relations with him.