Tusk urges allies to respect each other after US-Poland Starlink spat

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of respect among allies in a recent post on X, following a heated exchange involving Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Elon Musk over Starlink satellite services. Sikorski suggested that Ukraine might need alternatives to Starlink if it became unreliable, prompting Rubio to accuse him of fabrication and ingratitude, asserting that without Starlink, Ukraine would be in a much worse position. Musk further inflamed the situation by calling Sikorski a 'small man' in response to his comments. Tusk's statement highlighted that true leadership involves respecting even the smaller and weaker partners, urging a collective reflection on this principle. The diplomatic tension arises as Poland funds substantial Starlink services for Ukraine, which are critical for military communications amid ongoing conflict. Speculation about alternative providers surged, with shares of Eutelsat soaring as discussions about potential replacements for Starlink gained traction.