US Requests Alter Starlink Service | JQJO

The Biden and Trump administrations have repeatedly asked Elon Musk to turn Starlink on or off in various countries. During Biden’s term, requests included disabling the service to prevent Iranian proxy militias in Yemen and Lebanon from using Starlink, and enabling it to provide internet access inside Iran and in Ukraine for military support. Trump’s administration asked Musk to make the service available in Iran following U.S.–Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026, hoping to bolster internet access for anti‑government protesters. The recent throttling of Ukraine’s military access to Starlink has raised questions about the U.S. government’s reliance on a private company for foreign‑policy implementation.