WSJ: World's Richest Man Elon Musk Held Secret Talks with Putin, Discussed Starlink Over Taiwan for China

Oct 25, 2024, 01:21 AM

Elon Musk, the world's richest man and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to a Wall Street Journal report titled 'Elon Musk's Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin'. The discussions have covered personal matters, business topics, and geopolitical tensions. Musk, a linchpin of U.S. space efforts whose companies have significant contracts with the U.S. government, reportedly received a request from Putin to avoid activating his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This request was relayed by the Kremlin and reported by two people briefed on the situation, including a former Russian intelligence officer. The interactions have raised security concerns among U.S., European, and Russian officials, given Musk's pivotal role in critical infrastructure and international communications.