Europe seeks to end reliance on US satellites after Starlink disruption

Europe must reduce its reliance on American satellite systems after Elon Musk reportedly limited Starlink services in Ukraine, hampering its defense against Russian attacks and raising doubts about U.S. reliability as an ally. The incident has exposed Europe's lack of a home-grown alternative, as its space program suffers from delays, high costs, and inefficiency compared to SpaceX. The European Space Agency is now exploring commercial contracts and mergers to boost competitiveness. Europe is pursuing projects like the €16bn IRIS2 satellite network and national programs, but experts suggest pooling demand and building interoperable systems to enhance resilience. Greater European space capabilities could strengthen democratic alliances and reduce vulnerability to U.S. pressure.