US warns EU of 'devastating' retaliation if SpaceX's access to European market is restricted
The US ambassador to the EU, Andrew Puzder, has warned that European companies could face severe retaliation from Washington if Brussels limits American competitors' access to part of the market. The dispute concerns radio spectrum that lets smartphones connect directly to satellites.
U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder told the Financial Times that European companies would face "devastating" retaliation from Washington if Brussels presses ahead with plans to limit American competitors' access to part of the European market. The warning marks a new point of friction between the United States and the EU over satellite communications regulation.
What the dispute is about
At issue is a proposal by the European Commission, the EU's executive body, to reserve for European companies part of the radio spectrum that allows smartphones to connect directly to satellites. The move would curb spectrum access for Chinese and American firms, including Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Asked whether European companies should fear retaliation, Puzder said they "should be wary that it could happen and it would be very devastating for those companies," citing the size of the American market. He said that if the aim is to make the United States less competitive, it is not a legitimate goal for this kind of legislation. "You don't make European companies more competitive by making US companies less competitive," he added.
SpaceX objections and the Ukraine context
SpaceX has sharply criticized the Commission's proposal, warning that it risks degrading communications quality in Ukraine, where Starlink plays a critical role.
On October 14, Ukrainian military officials reported restrictions affecting Starlink satellite terminals, or more precisely their military version, Starshield. This came amid growing tension between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, who claims he did not order the restrictions. The Telegraph's sources say SpaceX head Elon Musk proposed limiting Starlink's operation in Ukraine to Trump, and the president agreed.
