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Contentious Exchange Over Starlink’s Role in Ukraine
Washington – The use of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system in Ukraine has sparked a public dispute involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. This exchange unfolded on social media platform X, raising questions about the ongoing support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
Elon Musk recently characterizes Starlink as an essential component for the Ukrainian military, asserting that its absence would critically undermine operational capabilities. “Starlink is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off,” Musk stated in a post that initiated the back-and-forth dialogue.
Responding to Musk, Sikorski emphasized the financial commitment from Poland to maintain this service, revealing that “Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year.” He expressed concern over Musk’s comments, suggesting that any threats to disable the system might compel Poland to seek alternative providers, emphasizing the ethical implications of making such threats against a nation under siege.
The exchange quickly brought Rubio into the conversation, where he contested Sikorski’s claims. Rubio criticized the Polish minister for allegedly fabricating threats, insisting, “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink.” He further urged gratitude, remarking that without Starlink, Ukraine might have already lost its conflict against Russia, potentially allowing Russian forces to approach Poland’s borders.
The dynamic escalated as Musk responded to the unfolding situation, calling Sikorski a “small man,” implying that the contribution from Poland was minimal compared to the broader stakes at play. “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink,” Musk retorted, underscoring the depth of the ongoing tensions between these key figures.
Starlink’s presence in Ukraine has been vital since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, with tens of thousands of terminals currently in use across the country. This includes a recent acquisition of up to 500 terminals by the U.S. Department of Defense in June 2023, highlighting the strategic importance of reliable communications in wartime scenarios.
The continuation of this debate illustrates not only the significant role that private sector technology plays in modern warfare but also the delicate diplomatic relationships that are affected by the supply and reliability of such services in conflict zones.
Source
www.bbc.com