Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in Washington on Thursday. The discussion revolved around space, technology, innovation, mobility and governance, as mentioned in a post on X (previously Twitter). The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the meeting also explored opportunities for cooperation in emerging technologies such as AI, entrepreneurship and excellent governance.
One important topic was the entry into the Indian market of SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink, according to a Reuters report. Starlink faces opposition from Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, regarding the spectrum allocation of Indian satellite services. The Indian government supports Musk’s attitude that the spectrum should be allocated rather than auctioned. However, Starlink license applications are still under review. This is a decision to retain importance as India aims to expand its space industry and compete globally.
With businesses in the global space industry, Elon Musk meets frequently with world leaders. SpaceX Rockets is widely used for satellite launches, and the StarLink network provides internet services in remote areas. Modi’s previous visit to the US led to a significant agreement on technology and space in 2023, when India signed the US Artemis Agreement.
During the two-day US visit, Modi is also expected to meet former President Donald Trump, with trade and tariff concessions likely to be discussed. However, sources indicate that Modi is not scheduled to meet other business leaders. Musk and Modi’s meeting attracted criticism from US lawmakers. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy accused Musk of acting like a government official to secure business transactions, and meetings with Mask’s foreign leaders do not benefit Americans, but rather personal. He said he is aiming for a profit. When asked about Musk’s involvement in the meeting, Trump said he would deal with masks in person later that day.
