Ramaphosa States Starlink Not Addressed During White House Meeting

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied that Starlink was discussed during his recent White House meeting with President Trump. He highlighted the presence of multiple companies in the satellite industry and stressed the necessity for public engagement to create a favorable investment climate for internet access in South Africa.

In a recent statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa clarified that the topic of Starlink was not discussed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. “Many people believe that we went to Washington to discuss Starlink. That is not so… notwithstanding the fact that Elon Musk was there as part of the US delegation,” Ramaphosa explained to reporters after delivering a speech at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in South Africa.

Additionally, Ramaphosa indicated that South Africa is quite knowledgeable about employing low-orbit satellites to enhance Wi-Fi and internet access in the region. He emphasized that the focus should not be restricted to a single company, noting that many other contenders, including Chinese, Russian, and European firms, as well as local companies, are eager to participate in this sector. “People tend to focus on one company only, and yet, we’ve got a plethora of companies that would want to get into this space,” he remarked.

Moreover, the president stressed the importance of forming a conducive environment for investment in satellite communications, one that is appropriately structured and permitted. He noted that this process demands considerable public and stakeholder engagement, encouraging extensive discussions and support from vital stakeholders as well as the general populace.

Last week, Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House involved conversations surrounding various bilateral issues and trade relations. This visit occurred in the backdrop of growing tensions over Trump’s assertions regarding the persecution of white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, claims that Ramaphosa has refuted. Furthermore, the meeting followed the US government’s decision to accept a group of white South African refugees as part of a resettlement initiative initiated by the Trump administration, underscoring the complex dynamics of US-South African relations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear that Starlink was not a topic of discussion during his meeting with Donald Trump. He underscored the presence of multiple competitors in the satellite field, emphasizing the need for thorough public engagement as South Africa navigates its investment environment for internet access. Tensions surrounding claims of persecution of farmers and changes in refugee policy further complicated the backdrop of their bilateral discussions.

Original Source: www.aa.com.tr