The Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, announced that the government intends to swiftly grant a license to Elon Musk's Starlink for providing satellite internet services in the country on a pilot basis.

This was reported by Reuters.

In February, the Vietnamese parliament approved a temporary scheme allowing satellite internet companies to operate in Vietnam while maintaining full control over their local subsidiaries, a crucial condition set by Elon Musk.

This marks a sudden shift in Vietnam's stance on foreign ownership in the satellite internet provider sector, as the communist nation has strict regulations on foreign control.

Hanoi is seeking to avoid American tariffs on its rapidly growing exports, which contributed to a record trade surplus last year, making the Southeast Asian nation vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.

During a meeting with nearly 40 representatives of American businesses in Hanoi, Chinh also stated that Vietnam is taking steps to balance its trade surplus with the U.S., mentioning potential imports of aircraft, weaponry, liquefied natural gas, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals.