Europe Is Best Placed To Break Starlink's Global Grip

Asia is embracing Elon Musk's satellite internet to boost broadband — but must back alternatives to avoid reliance on one capricious provider.

- Bhavan Jaipragas

Each passing day of Mr Donald Trump's return to the White House delivers an unmistakable message to the European Union: contempt.

The US President himself has even suggested that the bloc was created solely to "screw" America.

His threats to dismantle eight decades of security guarantees expose Europe's dangerous over-reliance on Washington for defence, while his tariff warnings reveal profound economic vulnerabilities.

As European policymakers frantically scramble to rearm and recalibrate trade strategies, a pressing question must surely be emerging in their minds: In an era when the EU's all-important transatlantic partner inspires suspicion rather than trust, how can Europe diversify and strengthen its other global relationships — particularly with key Asian allies?

One compelling answer lies in developing a European rival to Starlink, the high-speed satellite internet system that is part of SpaceX, controlled by Mr Trump's favoured billionaire adviser, Mr Elon Musk.

In today's political climate, relying on a service managed by Mr Musk carries risks comparable to dealing with President Trump himself.

Countries around the world, used to taking American predictability for granted, are looking for white knights to reduce dependence on the superpower.

If the EU can deliver an alternative on the satellite internet front, it would not just serve its own interests, but also boost trade and strategic ties with global partners, while also giving a welcome boost to its space industry.

Consider the events of this past weekend: Mr Musk boasted that Starlink — which delivers internet from space rather than through terrestrial cables — constitutes the "backbone of the Ukrainian army" and claimed that the "entire front line would collapse" if he simply switched it off.