The Starlink-Ukraine Scandal, Phase 2

Starlink and National Security

Paul Krugman argues that decisions affecting national security should not be left to billionaires such as Elon Musk. Starlink-related communications technology has been crucial to Ukraine’s defense, and reports say transmission speeds were abruptly restricted. Accounts differ, however, about who ordered the change and what authority was involved.

Reports that Donald Trump asked Musk to lift the restriction underscore the problem, Krugman says: A president should not have to appeal to a private business owner to protect a U.S. ally’s ability to defend itself. Private ownership can also allow officials to obscure responsibility for policy decisions.

The exact sequence of events, whether speeds have been restored, and the intentions of Trump and Musk remain unclear. Krugman calls for further investigation.

In Krugman’s view, public criticism may have pressured the administration to respond, but a lasting solution would put control of Starlink’s national-security use under elected officials—through public ownership or a contract establishing clear government authority. He concludes that foreign and national-security policy should not be made by billionaires.

Presenter/contributor: Paul Krugman