Hi everybody. Welcome back to the show.
Now on this episode, we unpack how the US government is
pressuring foreign nations to approve Elon Musk's Starlink in
exchange for favorable trade terms.
Why developing countries are using Starlink licenses to
deflect tariffs. And how this strategy
complicates? US diplomacy amid growing
competition with China in global Internet infrastructure.
Also, we're going to explain why the State Department is naming
Starlink in official cables and what role Trump analyze are
playing in these efforts and how regulatory pressure blends with
geopolitical goals. And we're also going to examine
how these moves are being interpreted by foreign leaders,
especially in Africa and Asia, and what this means for
Starlink's expansion plans. Welcome to the Elon Musk
podcast. I'm your host, Will Walden.
Your ultimate. Authority for daily Elon Musk
news. Exploring the world's biggest
ideas with your host Will Walden.
There's something new every day. Now on March 28th, 2024,
officials in Lesotho awarded Elon Musk Sterling a 10 year
satellite Internet license. Now, just two weeks earlier, the
Trump administration had imposed a 50% tariff on their exports to
the US. The decision came during early
stage negotiations over a new trade agreement between the two
countries. The Lessotho Communications
Authority hosted Starlink executives in a meeting shortly
after the tariff announcement. Internal memos from the US State
Department revealed that Lessotho hoped the license would
demonstrate goodwill during trade talks.
Now, the cable stated that the move showed intent to welcome US
businesses, specifically Starlink.
Now, that pattern has repeated in at least seven countries
since Trump's return to office. Starlink struck distribution
deals in India and gained traction in Somalia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo,
and potentially others. Now, these deals often coincided
with new tariffs or economic pressure from the US.
According to internal diplomatic cables reviewed by The
Washington Post, US embassies and State Department officials
have actively lobbied for Starlink approvals in foreign
nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
signed at least two official communications instructing US
diplomats to promote satellite firms naming Starlink
explicitly. In a March 28th action memo,
Rubio said global regulatory support was essential to
preserving Starlink's first mover advantage.
In one. Such case.
India's fast track. Starlink regulatory process
while also renegotiating trade terms with the US.
According to international sources familiar with India's
decision making, Indian leaders viewed Starlink's entry as a
lubricant for the talks. Though not formally part of
trade negotiations, Starlink's access was strategically
positioned as a gesture toward Washington.
Rubio's diplomatic memos frame Chinese and Russian satellite
services as threats to US National Security.
They argued that American firms needed help entering markets
before competitors gained footholds.
Officials cite this by name in nearly every single memo, even
as they promoted a general preference for US satellite
services. The Trump White House denied any
conflict of interest related to Musk's involvement.
Musk donated $277,000,000 to Trump aligned candidates and
currently leads the US Doge service, though he announced
plans to step down. The White House said the only
priority in trade deals was protecting American economic
interests. However, the optics around
Musk's political influence have created some tension.
Foreign officials are finding it difficult to separate US
official interests from US Musk's business ambitions and
analysts point to the timing and coordination between 2 trade
pressure and Starlink license approvals as strong signals of
implicit pressure now in Cambodia, the connection between
tariffs and Starlink approvals was even clearer.
On April 2nd, Trump slapped a 49% tariff on Cambodian goods.
The next day, U.S. business representatives in Cambodia
urged local officials to offer Starlink access and duty free
entry for Ford vehicles to restore trade ties now.
Even before the tariff, though, the embassy documented
Cambodia's consideration of Starlink as a trade balancing
tool. Cables dated March 28th showed
local officials were exploring Starlink access to signal
alignment with the US government, and the embassy
noted the Cambodian government wanted to promote Boeing and
Starlink to avoid economic penalties.
Meanwhile, in Mali, embassy staff reported the local
authorities were building a regulatory framework to bring
Starlink into the country. Embassy personnel said they had
already identified a company preparing to launch a local
Starlink franchise. Now.
The memo noted that the embassy's internal deal team was
actively assisting the process. And in Turkey, embassy staff
delivered talking points directly from Rubio's memo to
senior space agency officials. Turkish regulators had already
expressed interest in services like Starlink and Amazon's
Project Kuiper, and the Cable recorded the meeting and
described it as part of an ongoing US effort to push
satellite Internet diplomacy. There's other similar campaigns
underway and other countries have pledged to continue to
follow up on Starlink. Musk satellite business has
enormous financial stakes in this international expansion.
According to Quilty Space firm specializing in satellite
marketing research, Internet company Starlink could generate
$1 billion annually for just 1% of India's broadband market.
Comparable growth potential exists in parts of Latin America
and sub-Saharan Africa. Now, the State Department of the
United States has a long standing interest in satellite
based Internet access. Under President Biden, Secretary
Anthony Blinken signed a cable supporting low Earth orbit, or
Elio, satellite vendors as alternatives to traditional
ISPs. The cable issued in December
said 50 US embassies already used Elio systems and more would
follow. Now.
Blinken's cable did not favor Starlink exclusively.
It said the department would expand access to other vendors
as they became available. However, since Trump's return,
diplomatic cables increasingly referenced Starlink by name and
urge officials to advocate for its market entry W more of the
Center for Global Departments. That African nations are
approving Starlink licenses more frequently under Trump than
during the previous administration.
He explained that many African officials perceive Musk's
interest as deeply intertwined with US diplomatic efforts now.
That perception, he said, effects how countries make
licensing decisions now. For everyday people in these
countries, though, Starlink offers faster Internet in places
where traditional broadband just doesn't exist.
Governments facing pressure to improve connectivity see
Starling as a shortcut to digital access.
But these choices are being made under trade stress, which raises
questions about severity and transparency.
And for American citizen, the story reveals how foreign policy
supports certain private companies that hold political
leverage, taxpayer funded diplomacy being used to sheep
deals that enrich a few individuals while advancing
geopolitical goals. Whether or not Starlink performs
well in these countries, the business is winning access
through methods tied to trade negotiations, not just open
markets. Now, the strategy also reaffirms
how China's tech expansion is reshaping US foreign policy. the
United States sees the telecom race with China as a 0 sum
contest, and by tying Starling to trade deals, the US
government is actively prioritizing Internet
infrastructure as a strategic resource.
While no formal deals have yet been signed since the April 2nd
tariff announcements, the groundwork for Tradelink
concessions is being laid through technology access.
Each country that grants down like a license sends a message
to Washington that it is willing to play ball.
The balance of power in these negotiations is tilting toward
whoever controls connectivity. Hey, thank you so much for
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