Quick Answer: The US ambassador to the EU, Andrew Puzder, has warned Brussels of “devastating” retaliation if the bloc reserves most of Europe’s 2 GHz satellite spectrum for European operators, the Financial Times reported on October 18. The plan would sharply limit the frequencies available to Elon Musk’s Starlink for its direct-to-device phone service in Europe.
The United States has threatened Europe with “devastating” retaliation over plans to restrict Elon Musk’s Starlink from the continent’s satellite spectrum, in a fresh escalation of transatlantic tensions over who controls the technology that keeps Ukraine’s military online. The warning from Washington’s ambassador to the EU, Andrew Puzder, was reported by the Financial Times on Sunday, landing in the same week Ukraine accused the US of deliberately slowing its Starlink connections on th
What the US ambassador said about Starlink and Europe
Puzder told the Financial Times that European companies could face “devastating” retaliation if Brussels goes ahead with its plan to limit how
Why Starlink’s Ukraine service makes the fight so sharp
The spectrum row is playing out days after one of the most serious ruptures of the war. Ukrainian forces detected speed limits on the military-grade Starshield system on the night of October 14, with connections dropping when terminals moved faster than about 161 km/h — crippling the interceptor drones that use Starlink. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on NBC’s Meet the Press that the order to limit speeds came from the US government, and that Ukrainian tests in EU countries confirmed restrictions apply inside Ukraine but not in Europe — what he called a “planned operation.”
The White House and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have denied any US role, attributing the problems to technical issues, and Starlink owner Elon Musk has said limits on the military system are decided by the US military. The dispute has underlined how dependent Ukraine’s military is on Starlink — and, for Europe, how much leverage Washington holds over the sky.
What is direct-to-device satellite service?
Direct-to-device — also called satellite-to-smartphone — lets ordinary phones connect straight to satellites in areas with no cell coverage, bypassing ground towers entirely. The 2 GHz band at the center of the EU fight is already used in limited cases, including reaching emergency services when there is no mobile signal. Starlink says it leads the segment, claiming 7.4 million users in several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the US ambassador warn about Starlink?
US ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder told the Financial Times that European companies could face “devastating” retaliation if Brussels goes ahead with plans to reserve most of Europe’s 2 GHz satellite spectrum for European operators — a plan that would limit the frequencies available to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
What is the EU’s 2 GHz spectrum proposal?
The European Commission’s May proposal would reserve one-third of the band for governmental use, such as security and military communications tied to the IRIS² satellite array; one-third for European companies’ commercial services; and leave foreign operators like Starlink and Amazon Leo to compete for the remaining third. Current licences held by US firms Viasat and EchoStar, in place since 2009, expire in May 2027.
Why is Starlink so important for Ukraine’s military?
Ukraine’s forces rely on the military-grade Starshield service for drone operations and frontline communications. When speeds were limited to about 161 km/h on October 14, interceptor drones that use Starlink were crippled. Zelenskyy says the limits were ordered by the US government; Washington attributes them to technical issues.
What is direct-to-device satellite service?
Direct-to-device — satellite-to-smartphone — lets ordinary mobile phones connect straight to satellites where there is no cell coverage, bypassing ground towers. The 2 GHz band at the centre of the EU dispute is ideal for it, and Starlink claims 7.4 million users in several European countries, including the UK, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
Reporting by the Financial Times; background on the EU proposal per Le Monde and Reuters. Story developing — checked October 18, 2026.
What happens next
The EU proposal still has to pass through Parliament and member states, and it is already drawing objections — Italy’s lower house has filed a formal objection, according to European press coverage. Washington has been warning Brussels for months: the US Federal Communications Commission said in March it could take retaliatory measures if the EU favoured European satellite operators over alternatives such as Starlink.
If Puzder’s warning is a preview of that retaliation, Europe’s bid for a sovereign sky could come at a direct economic cost — while its own IRIS² constellation remains four years from service.
much of Europe’s satellite spectrum non-EU companies can obtain. The warning is aimed squarely at a European Commission proposal that would keep the bulk of the prized 2 GHz band — the frequencies used for satellite-to-smartphone connectivity — for European operators, leaving foreign constellations such as Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper with a smaller share.
The proposal reverses a long-standing arrangement: since 2009, licences in the band have been held by two US operators, Viasat and EchoStar. The current licences expire in May 2027, and Brussels wants the new allocation system in place before then.
What the EU’s spectrum plan would do
The Commission unveiled the plan in May, framing it as a tech-sovereignty move. One-third of the spectrum would be reserved for governmental use such as security and military communications, supplied by an EU operator and integrated with the bloc’s IRIS² multi-orbit array of 290 satellites — Europe’s planned answer to Starlink. Another third would be set aside for European companies’ commercial services. Foreign operators would compete for the remaining third, split into two blocks.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen has defended the move, saying the bloc wants to “increase European capacity in this sector,” while arguing that other parts of the band remain open to international operators. SpaceX, in a memo reviewed by the Financial Times, challenged the proposal on technical grounds, warning it could deprive Europeans of direct-to-device services and create interference risks, including for emergency communications supporting Ukraine.
e front line.
Key Takeaways
- US ambassador Andrew Puzder warned of “devastating” retaliation if the EU reserves most 2 GHz satellite spectrum for European firms.
- The EU plan, unveiled in May, would leave non-EU operators like Starlink and Amazon Leo with only one-third of the band for commercial use.
- Starlink says it leads the direct-to-device segment with 7.4 million users across several European countries.
- The threat lands days after Ukraine said Washington deliberately throttled its military Starlink speeds to 161 km/h — a claim the White House denies.
- Europe’s answer, the IRIS² constellation, is not expected online until 2030.
