Musk’s relation with Trump is proving to be a complication for Starlink’s global rollout

Starlink has been engaged in talks to bring the service to new countries with over 1 billion potential new users. It has been negotiating with Morocco, Bangladesh, and Turkey. Progress has also been made in other huge markets like India. However, Musk’s political connections have started to complicate Starlink’s global rollout.

Musk’s relations with Trump have helped Starlink secure critical government contracts in the United States. Trump-era officials showed fewer concerns about monopolies, clearing a path for SpaceX to land lucrative federal deals. Thanks to that environment, Starlink was recently installed at the White House, and Howard Lutnick, Trump’s commerce secretary, has urged officials to consider the service under the $42 billion US rural Broadband Equity.

Regulators in each country must decide whether Musk’s political reputation and unpredictable comments on his social media platform create too much risk. This debate has already surfaced in Canada, Europe, and other regions that initially embraced Starlink but are now hesitant to deepen their dependence on Musk’s company.

In a recent example, a Canadian province canceled a $100 million agreement with Starlink as a protest against American tariffs, signaling that Musk’s image in the U.S. could affect cross-border deals. He also stirred opposition from European politicians after criticizing their approach to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

Industry experts say these issues might spark a shift in the satellite communications arena, suggesting that Starlink, while still the largest player, may not remain the only major force if governments decide to diversify. Edison Yu, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, noted, “There appears to be a potentially tectonic shift occurring in the satellite communications landscape ignited by geopolitics. Starlink is still clearly number one, but not the only one.”

Musk has a huge financial stake in Starlink

Meanwhile, Musk’s financial stake is enormous. Starlink is a key part of SpaceX, which was valued at $350 billion in a private tender offer. Roughly half of Musk’s $314 billion net worth is now tied to SpaceX, while his 20 percent stake in Tesla has dwindled in value to around $100 billion. According to Morgan Stanley, Starlink could generate $16.3 billion in revenue this year, a 74 percent increase from $9.3 billion in 2024. The subscriber base, reported at 4.65 million in January, may nearly double to 7.8 million in the near term.

By comparison, SpaceX’s rocket launch business is projected to make $5.8 billion in revenue in 2025, rising from $4.9 billion in the prior year. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said, “While it all began with market-leading launch capability, we believe Starlink will be the primary driver of SpaceX’s growth and profitability.”

Starlink claims that it has a network of around 7,000 low-orbit satellites that connect distant corners of the world. Niger, for example, became the latest nation to gain access just last week. However, company insiders report that the bigger developments lie in negotiations with Turkey and Morocco, with the latter exploring an expansion of service into Western Sahara, a disputed territory. In Bangladesh, officials say Musk personally spoke with the country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, in hopes of finalizing an operating license. These efforts build on Starlink’s progress in India, where deals were recently made with tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal.

Such partnerships are especially appealing in regions that are geographically difficult to serve. Airlines and maritime companies have also adopted Starlink, including Qatar Airways and Air France. However, Musk’s foray into political matters has presented drawbacks. 

Musk’s controversial statements and relations with Trump are proving to be a hurdle

Musk’s labeling of certain South African Black economic empowerment rules as “openly racist” has caused friction over Starlink’s entry into his home country. Brazil saw a similar controversy over false information shared on Musk’s social media site, X, causing leaders there to consider a ban on Starlink at one point.

The global tension grew more visible when Musk requested an urgent meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella to salvage a $1.5 billion deal with Italy’s government. The deal hit a snag after Trump suspended certain military aid and intelligence-sharing arrangements with Ukraine. Italy’s presidential palace refused a direct meeting, instead directing Starlink to work with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose administration holds the real authority in such matters.

Around 40,000 terminals are operating in Ukraine’s military, hospital, business, and relief settings. SpaceX originally covered those costs, but they are now handled by Poland and the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon holds a $537 million contract with SpaceX through 2027 under the Proliferated Low Earth Orbit program, ensuring Ukraine’s forces keep receiving satellite coverage. Poland also chips in about $50 million annually to supply Starlink terminals, according to its digitization ministry.

Musk’s remarks on X have at times sparked anxiety among Ukraine’s partners. He boasted that Starlink is the “backbone of the Ukrainian army,” adding that the front line would “collapse” without it. In response, Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski warned that relying so heavily on a single supplier might require Poland to find another provider if Starlink proved unreliable. 

I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off.

What I am sickened by is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 9, 2025

Musk fired back at Sikorski on X, telling him to “be quiet” and insisting that Poland pays only a fraction of Starlink’s overall cost. He then clarified that SpaceX would never disconnect Ukraine’s access or use the service as leverage.

Be quiet, small man.

You pay a tiny fraction of the cost.

And there is no substitute for Starlink.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 9, 2025

Defense experts note that Europe may try to develop alternatives in light of Musk’s unpredictable statements. Still, no nation has banned Starlink outright. 

Analysts who follow the satellite industry see no slowdown for Starlink in the immediate future. Chris Quilty of Quilty Space says, “If a country banned access to Starlink, people would be at politicians with pitchforks.” 

Even in markets that have blocked government contracts or threatened to pull support, private citizens and businesses often find ways to use Starlink equipment bought elsewhere. Given the scarcity of reliable alternatives in rural or conflict-affected zones, local populations may pressure politicians to allow Starlink services, even if officials dislike Musk’s political connections.

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