The United States government is highlighting the adoption of Starlink during ongoing tariff negotiations with various nations. Recent reports indicate that several countries, including India, Somalia, Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam, have recently made progress in licensing the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk.
According to internal communications reviewed by The Washington Post, U.S. embassies and the State Department are urging foreign governments to facilitate the entry of U.S. satellite internet services like Starlink. Although the messages do not guarantee reduced tariffs for adopting Starlink, they indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been increasingly directing officials to advocate for the regulatory approvals needed for Musk’s company.
Sources suggest that officials in India expedited the approval process for Starlink, operating under the impression that this move could strengthen trade connections with the U.S. administration. Recently, India’s government moved to approve Starlink’s proposal, advancing the project’s timeline within the nation.
In a statement to The Washington Post, White House spokesperson Kush Desai noted that the Trump administration’s trade discussions are focused on the best interests of Americans, which includes supporting U.S. companies on a global scale. The spokesperson emphasized President Trump’s commitment to avoiding any conflicts of interest. The State Department added that patriotic Americans should support the global success of American firms, particularly when competing against diminished Chinese rivals. SpaceX did not respond to Technology News’s request for comment.
Following an earlier piece by The Washington Post discussing Starlink’s rapid expansion worldwide, several Senate Democrats urged President Trump to investigate allegations that Musk may have improperly leveraged his government connections to promote his business interests abroad.
