Rubio Says White House Unaware of Starlink Slowdown
SingTao · 5 SOURCESabout 7 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A new layer has been added to the dispute over Starlink access for Ukraine after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the earlier slowdown was Elon Musk’s decision and that the White House had no prior knowledge of it . That account sits alongside earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal, cited across multiple outlets, that Musk ordered speed limits on Starlink service used by Ukrainian forces and discussed the matter with President Donald Trump before and after the move . US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth separately said Washington had not withdrawn Ukraine’s Starlink capability and had issued no such instruction, while adding that SpaceX can set its own service terms . The conflicting explanations have sharpened scrutiny of the roles of SpaceX, the White House and the US military in a communications system that Ukrainian officials say is vital to frontline links and drone operations .
Key Points
- The Wall Street Journal reported on October 20, citing US officials and informed sources, that Musk ordered transmission speed limits on Starlink service used by Ukrainian frontline forces .
- Sources said Musk spoke with Trump after the slowdown became public, and some also said the two had discussed the issue before the restriction was imposed .
- Rubio said in Mumbai that Trump and administration officials never requested changes, and that the White House had not known in advance about the slowdown decision .
- Hegseth said on Tuesday that Washington had not revoked Ukraine’s Starlink access or issued related instructions, while saying SpaceX may decide its own service terms .
- Ukrainian officials said the sudden slowdown caught their forces off guard, severely disrupting battlefield communications and drone missions, while President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the US of betrayal .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the episode shows how a privately controlled technology platform can become central to warfighting and diplomacy at the same time . It also underlines the risks for governments and militaries that depend on commercial networks whose operating limits, contractual terms and political accountability may not always align clearly in a crisis .
For Hong Kong readers, the episode shows how a privately controlled technology platform can become central to warfighting and diplomacy at the same time . It also underlines the risks for governments and militaries that depend on commercial networks whose operating limits, contractual terms and political accountability may not always align clearly in a crisis .