The Trump administration has pushed countries facing steep tariffs to approve Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system to gain market access, according to a report from the Washington Post. Following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on goods imported from countries such as Lesotho, those nations have sought relief by entering into licensing agreements with Starlink’s satellite internet services.
Several countries, including India, Lesotho, Vietnam, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have fast-tracked or partially approved Starlink deals amid ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S.
An internal memo from the State Department indicates that Lesotho views its approval of Starlink licensing as a sign of support for American enterprises, while senior U.S. diplomatic officials have instructed personnel to encourage nations to greenlight Starlink agreements.
The advocacy for Starlink reflects U.S. competition with China in global telecommunications but has sparked allegations of self-dealing and conflicts of interest involving Trump and Musk.
