Report: Elon Musk in Regular Contact With Putin Since 2022
Facts
- Elon Musk has been in contact with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday.[1]
- Citing former and current US officials, as well as officials in Europe and Russia, the pair reportedly discussed personal matters, business, and geopolitical issues.[2]
- At one point, according to two sources cited in the report, Putin asked Musk — the founder of SpaceX — not to activate the company's Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to China. The request came late last year, according to a Russian intelligence official.[3]
- The report went on to allege that despite backing Ukraine early in its conflict with Russia, Musk's tone started to change towards Russia at the time of the reported interactions. One source was quoted as saying that, at the time, there was pressure from the Kremlin on Musk's businesses, and in which there had been 'implicit threats against him.'[4]
- The report also added that while US officials 'don't love' the interactions between Musk and Putin, they are in a conundrum because the US government is reliant on Musk's technologies. Musk has a security clearance as a result of these contracts, but no red flags have been raised as to possible security breaches, the report further said.[3]
- Musk did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin and Musk have had only one phone call where they discussed 'space, as well as current and future technologies.'[5]
Sources: [1]The Wall Street Journal, [2]Rolling Stone, [3]New York Post, [4]MSN and [5]POLITICO.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Independent. The contact between Musk and Putin raises some serious national security questions given how closely tied Musk's businesses are tied to the US military and intelligence community. However, the US government's arms are somewhat tied because of how heavily they rely on his technologies.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Keith Olbermann on X.com. Irrespective of how reliant the US is on Musk's technologies, it's unacceptable that he maintains his contracts and security clearances given that he's cozying up to one of America's biggest nemesis. Not only that, Musk should face legal ramifications as well.