SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has found himself at the center of a political dilemma regarding this development, as its unpredictable nature and actions have raised concerns among US officials. This has caused concern in the Pentagon, as journalist Ronan Farrow reported in a major article for The New Yorker.

While Musk has no official status as a diplomat or statesman, his influence on the issue led Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s former undersecretary of defense for policy, to see him as a diplomat. Kahl emphasized the importance of Musk’s influence in the war in Ukraine.

What does Musk think about the war?

Musk’s position on the Russian-instigated war in Ukraine has changed since the initial deployment of Starlink terminals to the Ukrainian military in early 2022. At first, Musk showed strong support for Ukraine, celebrating the transfer of a large number of terminals.

But over time, when SpaceX achieves convergence 20,000 terminals, Musk began voicing his concerns about rising costs and his reservations about the company’s continued support for increased data usage. His relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin have further fueled Pentagon officials’ suspicions of his involvement in the conflict.

Around this time, the Ukrainian military began to have problems with Starlink communications. The signal was intermittent which caused some problems and complications. Sources cited by The New Yorker suggested that these cuts were likely the result. Intentional use of geo-fixing by SpaceX to disable communications.

Stupid ideas of Musk’s “genius”

An unexpected step was Musk on October 3. wrote on TwitterWhat Ukraine should consider the possibility of surrendering Crimea for the peaceful resolution of the war. The tweet caused confusion and led some to speculate that Musk was trying to allay concerns about Russia’s contribution to Starlink’s success at the Ukrainian front.

Colin Kahl analyzed Musk’s mood during this period and stated that Musk may be worried about the acceptance of Starlink in Russia. Kahl suggested that Musk was looking for ways to address “Russian concerns”.

Musk tried to give it back

About a week after his controversial tweet, Musk denied that he had spoken to Putin about Ukraine, claiming that their last conversation was about “space” about 18 months ago. But Kahl provided a counter-factual by describing a meeting where Musk showed a map of Starlink activity before speaking to Putin, prompting Kahl to voice her concerns about the situation.

Starlink works at the front

Fortunately for Ukrainian soldiers, communication with Starlink remains relatively stable, without serious interruptions. On October 15, Elon Musk announced that despite financial losses, SpaceX will continue to fund the Ukrainian government to keep communications; this is a commitment that seems to have been fulfilled so far.

Musk’s problems

Elon Musk’s participation in providing the Starlink system to Ukrainian soldiers not only strained relations with Russia, but also alienated China. This development creates a complex situation, given Musk’s significant trade ties with China. Tesla’s investment in China and its strong factory in Shanghai further complicate the situation.

Musk’s Starlink constellation has caught the attention of Chinese officials, who have expressed concerns about the potential for unlimited communications within China’s borders. In response, China announced plans to develop its own satellite network that could potentially compete with Starlink.

Finally, Elon Musk’s profound influence on the global geopolitical scene has alarmed world powers and forced them to engage with a billionaire entrepreneur of unprecedented influence. While Musk is a widely recognized figure, the full extent of his power remains unclear. As a Pentagon official noted, the world’s dependence on Musk’s private company creates complex problems and uncertainties.