American billionaire Elon Musk has claimed that the Starlink system is crucial to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, suggesting that if he were to switch it off, the front line held by Ukrainian troops would collapse.
Meanwhile, Europe is pursuing replacements for Ukraine. Obviously none as good as Starlink and there’ll be a rough time in the switchover, but Musk is not the only source for this kind of service.
And in the meantime, by merely making this statement Musk has doomed Starlink to never be seriously considered again as a provider for critical services like this elsewhere in the world.
Meanwhile, Europe is pursuing replacements for Ukraine. Obviously none as good as Starlink and there’ll be a rough time in the switchover, but Musk is not the only source for this kind of service.
And in the meantime, by merely making this statement Musk has doomed Starlink to never be seriously considered again as a provider for critical services like this elsewhere in the world.
But it made him feel really important for a while, which is all that matters.
That really will do wonders for the “don’t buy American” waves that’s washing over Europe at the moment.