Musk's Secret Chats with Putin: A New Twist

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been involved in behind-the-scenes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to sources from various governments. These discussions occurred while Russia was engaged in a major conflict with Ukraine, a close ally of the U. S. The topics covered a wide range, from business to personal and political issues. One notable instance was Putin's request for Musk to restrict Starlink internet services in Taiwan as a favor to China, a key ally of Russia. Starlink, especially the military version called StarShield, has been a focus of interest. When a U. S. congressional delegation visited Taiwan, they found StarShield not operational for American troops. This led to a letter from the House committee to SpaceX, asking them to turn on the service. SpaceX denied any non-compliance with their Pentagon contract. These talks between Musk and Putin happened during Musk’s takeover of Twitter. It’s important to note that Musk has been a significant donor to the Republican Party and has openly supported former President Donald Trump. The conversations with Putin add layers to the complexity of Musk’s decision-making process, particularly when it comes to geopolitical and national security issues. Musk's influence extends to his management of Twitter, making these talks even more intriguing. Prior to the Twitter acquisition, Musk had at least one known discussion with Putin, where he proposed Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia and remain neutral. This drew criticism from various quarters, including Ukraine’s president. Musk’s business interests have also historically included Russia. He visited the country to discuss buying intercontinental ballistic missiles for SpaceX, although this deal never materialized. SpaceX has worked with NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos, demonstrating cooperation in the aerospace industry. However, Musk's recent interactions with Putin raise questions about the lines between business and politics, especially in light of current geopolitical tensions.