Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been having regular conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. The Wall Street Journal reported this information and mentioned that some intelligence officials are concerned about national security due to these conversations. One instance mentioned in the report is when Putin asked Musk not to activate his satellite-based internet service, Starlink, in Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The interests of Musk and Russia have been aligning more closely over the past year. Russia has reportedly used X, a social network owned by Musk, to spread disinformation, including false information about vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and the federal response to recent hurricanes. Additionally, the Ukrainian government has claimed that Russian forces in their country are using Starlink to enhance the capabilities of their drones.
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government is facing a dilemma because it relies heavily on Musk’s technologies. For example, SpaceX, one of Musk’s companies, is responsible for launching critical national security satellites into orbit.
The relationship between Musk and Putin and the implications of their conversations have sparked concerns among tech experts and government officials. Some are worried about the potential impact on national security and the use of Musk’s technologies for political purposes.
It is important to monitor the developments in this story closely and consider the broader implications of tech leaders like Musk engaging in conversations with world leaders like Putin. The intersection of technology, politics, and national security is a complex and evolving landscape that requires careful attention and analysis.
