DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY IS A NEW THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY:MAHENDRA TIWARI

DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY IS A NEW THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY:MAHENDRA TIWARI

16-OCT-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------The recent dispute over satellite internet between Ukraine and the United States has clearly highlighted the critical importance of self-reliance in communication and technology during modern warfare. Ukraine, which is putting up a staunch resistance against Russian attacks, has encountered a new and unforeseen challenge. The Ukrainian President publicly expressed concern that the speed of the satellite internet services being used in the war zone had been abruptly and significantly reduced. In modern warfare, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles—or drones—has increased substantially; these aircraft rely on this very internet technology to determine their course and targets. The reduction in speed caused several of Ukraine’s precise and vital military operations to fail at the last moment, weakening its defensive position against the Russian forces.

Ukrainian defense experts discovered that an undeclared technical restriction had been imposed on their communication equipment. Whenever a drone or piece of equipment exceeds a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, its connection to the satellite is immediately severed. In many instances, this disruption occurs even at speeds as low as 110 kilometers per hour. The most significant issue is that the Ukrainian military was given no prior notice regarding this technical change. High-speed attack drones operate at these elevated velocities; losing their connection mid-flight causes them to lose their orientation and crash. This situation is proving to be directly life-threatening for soldiers fighting on the battlefield.

Following mounting criticism on this issue, prominent businessman Elon Musk felt compelled to come forward and provide a clarification. Musk explained that the operational mechanisms for civilian and military satellite services are entirely different. He stated clearly that the military satellite system currently being used by Ukraine is fully owned and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense. The authority to limit internet speeds, maintain connectivity, or shut it down completely in any given area rests solely with the U.S. military—and, ultimately, with President Donald Trump. Musk’s statement makes it clear that, behind the scenes, control over the war has now shifted directly into the hands of Washington.

Experts in international affairs do not view this merely as a technical glitch; rather, it is being interpreted as a calculated strategy of diplomatic pressure. For some time, the U.S. has been urging Ukraine to halt its attacks on Russian oil production facilities, as these strikes are causing instability in the global energy market. It is believed that the U.S. is leveraging this communication system as a tool to ensure its demands are met. By throttling internet speeds, the U.S. is signaling to Ukraine that continued American military aid remains contingent upon adherence to U.S. terms.

This development has heightened concerns not only in Ukraine but also across other European nations. Diplomats from allied countries, such as Poland, are taken aback that the military of a partner nation could be subjected to such treatment in the midst of an ongoing war. was shut down. This controversy raises a new diplomatic question: can any nation fight a war independently while remaining dependent on foreign communication technology? This incident proves that future conflicts will not be won solely through cannons and missiles; rather, whoever controls the data and communication networks will determine the outcome of the war.