Musk's conversations with Putin raise concerns over tech, diplomacy, and national security

A basking potato: Recently revealed conversations betwixt Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin raise analyzable questions astir nan intersection of business, technology, and world relations. As 1 of nan astir influential figures successful nan tech manufacture and a cardinal subordinate successful US abstraction efforts, Musk's actions and associations interest immoderate observers.

A Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that Elon Musk, nan world's wealthiest individual and a cardinal fig successful US abstraction endeavors, has had regular discussions pinch Russian President Vladimir Putin since precocious 2022. These conversations, confirmed done aggregate sources, including existent and erstwhile US, European, and Russian officials, screen various topics, from individual matters to business and geopolitical issues.

One notable talk progressive a petition from Putin asking Musk to refrain from activating Starlink outer net work complete Taiwan. The inquire was reportedly a favour for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The petition was a somewhat moot motion since nan Taiwanese authorities imposes limitations connected overseas outer operators and has not authorized Starlink net work wrong nan country.

The White House considers nan discussions delicate owed to Musk's heavy business ties pinch US subject and intelligence agencies. Musk has a information clearance and entree to immoderate of America's astir classified abstraction programs. Musk jokingly acknowledged his information position astatine a caller run arena successful Pennsylvania.

"I do person a top-secret clearance, but, I'd person to say, for illustration astir of nan worldly that I'm alert of … nan logic they support it apical concealed is because it's truthful boring," Musk said.

Since Russia is 1 of America's superior adversaries, nan conversations are, astatine best, a bad look, sparking interest successful nan existent Administration, wherever immoderate officials were startled to study of nan relationship. Musk has humorously responded to nan news communicative connected X but hasn't denied nan claims.

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The revelations person prompted calls for investigation from immoderate quarters. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson responded to nan communicative astatine nan Semafor World Economy Summit.

"If nan communicative is existent that location person been aggregate conversations betwixt Elon Musk and nan president of Russia past I deliberation that would beryllium concerning, peculiarly for NASA, for nan Department of Defense, for immoderate of nan intelligence agencies," Nelson said.

White House officials person acknowledged nan communicative but person not commented aliases confirmed its veracity.

Musk's fascination pinch Russia dates backmost to nan early days of his abstraction ventures. In 2002, he traveled to Moscow successful an effort to acquisition rockets for his fledgling abstraction program. He grounded to adjacent nan deal, but nan travel began Musk's engagement pinch Russian abstraction technology.

In caller years, Musk has progressively go progressive successful geopolitical matters. He has met pinch various leaders, including Argentina's Javier Milei and erstwhile Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. He besides showed beardown support for Ukraine aft nan Russian penetration successful 2022.

Initially, he donated Starlink terminals to supply net entree successful areas affected by Russian attacks. However, his stance appeared to displacement later that twelvemonth erstwhile he restricted nan usage of Starlink for violative Ukraine subject operations. This alteration successful position coincided pinch reported unit from nan Kremlin. A personification acquainted pinch nan interactions stated that location were "implicit threats against him" from Russia during this period.

In nan past year, location person been reports that Russian forces are utilizing Starlink terminals successful occupied areas of Ukraine, perchance undermining 1 of Ukraine's fewer battlefield advantages. Musk stated that he has nary knowledge of terminals being sold straight aliases indirectly to Russia. He maintains that his companies person done much to undermine Russia than support it. However, nan quality and grade of his communications pinch Putin person go a taxable of statement and concern.