Reply to WP Exclusive: Latest Trump Admin Pay-to-Play Favors Musk: Govt pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink

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[quote=Anonymous]It looks like Musk's $260+ million investment in Trump is paying off in big ways. A WP investigation indicates that the State Dept. and US embassies are pushing various countries to clear the way for US satellite companies--in particular, Starlink--in return for an implicit understanding that they will get more favorable terms when it comes to US tariffs.

[quote]Less than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on goods from the tiny African nation of Lesotho, the country’s communications regulator held a meeting with representatives of Starlink. The satellite business, owned by billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, had been seeking access to customers in Lesotho. But it was not until Trump unveiled the tariffs and called for negotiations over trade deals that leaders of the country of roughly 2 million people awarded Musk’s firm the nation’s first-ever satellite internet service license, slated to last for 10 years. The decision drew a mention in an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post, which states: “As the government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States, it hopes that licensing Starlink demonstrates goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses.”

A series of internal government messages obtained by The Post reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for U.S. satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name. The documents do not show that the Trump team has explicitly demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs. But they do indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has increasingly instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk’s satellite firm at a moment when the White House is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade.[/quote]

Countries like India, Somalia, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam have also facilitated Starlink’s entry, possibly to mitigate U.S. tariff impacts. While not explicitly tied to tariff reductions, countries like India and Cambodia view Starlink approvals as a way to ease trade negotiations with the Trump administration.

Starlink’s global expansion could yield billions, with India alone potentially generating $1 billion annually from just 1% market share.

U.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables show
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/elon-musk-starlink-trump-tariffs/?mod=djemCapitalJournalDaybreak
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