Amitabh Kant defends India's national security rights amid Starlink dispute

Former G20 Sherpa and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has defended India's sovereign right to protect its national security interests following a controversy involving SpaceX's Starlink. Kant argued that India should be entitled to the same protections exercised by the United States, noting that measures taken by Washington to safeguard economic and national security should not be labeled as protectionism when applied by India.

Kant's comments were a response to social media posts by Elon Musk, who criticized Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani regarding Starlink's entry into the Indian market. Kant described Musk's remarks as being in “extremely poor taste,” stating that the suggestion that India is controlled by a single industrialist is “absurd and deeply disrespectful.” He emphasized that India is a vibrant democracy with transparent institutions.

To support his argument, Kant cited various U.S. regulatory actions, including 100 per cent tariffs on electric vehicles to limit Chinese manufacturers like BYD and restrictions on telecommunications equipment. While Starlink has secured a license to provide satellite communication services in India, the company must still obtain necessary security clearances and approvals before its commercial launch.