Musk and Putin: A Question of Influence

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been under scrutiny after a report by The Wall Street Journal revealed regular communications between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. This has sparked national security concerns and questions about Musk’s influence on U. S. politics. What exactly is going on between these two powerful figures? According to the WSJ, Musk has been talking to Putin about a range of topics, from personal matters to business interests and geopolitical issues. Several officials from the U. S. , Europe, and Russia have confirmed this information, although it's not widely known within the U. S. government. One interesting detail: Putin allegedly asked Musk not to activate Starlink satellite internet services over Taiwan, as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This raises some serious eyebrows, especially given the broader political context. SpaceX’s Starlink network has played a critical role in providing internet services in conflict zones like Ukraine. With Musk's companies having significant government contracts—around $15. 4 billion with NASA and the Pentagon alone—his access to sensitive information has drawn worry. Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the America Foreign Policy Council, noted on Twitter that U. S. Representative Gallagher had previously raised concerns about SpaceX possibly withholding broadband internet services in and around Taiwan. The Kremlin has downplayed the extent of these communications, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming only one conversation took place, discussing space and technology. However, political scientist Ian Bremmer reported in October 2022 that Musk had shared Russia’s non-negotiable positions on Ukraine, including its stance on Crimea. Musk has refuted these claims, denying that he said such things to Bremmer. Still, the allegations have brought up questions about Musk’s security clearance and the potential implications on national security. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on individual clearances but highlighted the importance of safeguarding sensitive information. Olga Lautman, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, expressed concerns about Starlink’s role in the Ukraine conflict. She questioned whether Musk might have a hidden arrangement with Putin to provide Starlink services to Russia. Musk’s political influence is also a significant point of discussion. He has supported former President Donald Trump, donating millions to PACs and initiating daily giveaways to voters in swing states. Garry Kasparov, a human rights activist and former world chess champion, likened Musk's actions to Trump’s focus on personal business, suggesting that both are easy to manipulate by dictators like Putin and Xi Jinping.