U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington would oversee Venezuela’s political transition, though details of any interim administration remain unclear and international observers have warned of a potential power vacuum. The president also said Vice President Delcy Rodriguez had been sworn in following Maduro’s removal and warned that a second military action could occur if the new leadership “failed to behave.”
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet on Jan. 6 to examine the legality of the U.S. operation. Several governments, including regional ally Brazil and European partner Spain, have publicly criticized the strikes. Against that backdrop, sustained internet access is expected to play a key role in communications, especially if further infrastructure damage or state-imposed shutdowns occur.
Venezuela has a documented history of internet censorship during periods of political tension under the administrations of Hugo Chávez and Maduro. By routing data through satellites rather than terrestrial networks, Starlink can circumvent domestic controls, a capability that has drawn attention in other restrictive environments. Thousands of users in Iran, for example, have reportedly accessed the service without local approval to bypass government filters.
The Venezuelan deployment is the latest instance of Starlink operating in conflict zones. The network was introduced in Ukraine in 2022 to replace damaged infrastructure after Russia’s invasion, becoming a vital conduit for both civilians and the military. A later disclosure that Elon Musk declined a request to extend coverage over Crimea prompted a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee inquiry into the influence a private firm could exert on wartime communications. A June 2023 contract placed Starlink’s Ukrainian operations under formal Pentagon oversight, but the Department of Defense has not commented on any comparable arrangement for Venezuela.
Analysts note that the pattern of offering no-cost service in areas where the United States confronts hostile regimes is likely to expand. Commercial satellite broadband gives Washington an alternative to vulnerable ground networks and, at the same time, enhances American influence over information flows. Competing powers are developing their own systems to reduce reliance on U.S. assets. In China, Shanghai-based Qianfan, also known as SpaceSail, has launched at least 108 low-Earth-orbit satellites, while Beijing’s state space program recently completed the 17th batch of spacecraft for its Guowang constellation.
Similar efforts are under way in Europe, where the European Union has backed projects aimed at securing autonomous broadband capacity. A BBC report on Starlink’s role in Ukraine noted that rapid satellite deployment can decisively shape connectivity in crisis zones, reinforcing the push for alternative constellations.
For Venezuelan users, the immediate concern remains access to reliable service. Starlink has indicated that any update on hardware availability or post-Feb. 3 pricing will be communicated through its official channels. In the interim, the company continues to credit accounts automatically, citing evolving regulatory and security considerations in the country.
Crédito da imagem: Daniel Cole | Reuters
