The United States is leveraging tariff negotiations to secure foreign regulatory approvals for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, according to internal State Department documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Less than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on goods from Lesotho, the African nation’s communications regulator met with Starlink representatives and subsequently awarded the company a satellite internet service license, the Post reported.
The documents show Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed directives instructing US embassy officials worldwide to advocate for American satellite providers, specifically naming Starlink, to “maintain and extend their global ‘first-mover’ advantage.”
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At least two countries have explicitly discussed adopting Starlink as a means to avoid US tariffs and secure better trade deals, according to the cables.
The State Department described Starlink as “an American-made product that has been game-changing in helping remote areas around the world gain internet connectivity,” positioning the initiative as a counterweight to Chinese telecommunications influence globally.
US officials in India, Cambodia, Turkey, Mali, and Djibouti have all engaged in discussions promoting Starlink’s entry to local markets, the documents show.
Industry analysts estimate Starlink could generate billions in revenue through international expansion, with potential to earn nearly $4 billion annually by capturing just 1% of India’s consumer broadband market.
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