PNN – Elon Musk, the American billionaire and the owner of the X social network, has dedicated a large part of his activity in social networks to the developments taking place in Latin America; Now this question comes to mind, what is the motivation and interests of this controversial figure in this region?
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, in recent days, Elon Musk has published several messages about the suspension of his social network (X) in Brazil, and a few weeks ago, he used X to send insulting messages to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and even invited Maduro to compete.
Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, said in an interview with CNN based in this country last Monday: The world does not have to tolerate everything from the extreme right of Musk just because he is rich.
The Supreme Court of Brazil ordered the suspension of the social network after Musk refused to appoint a legal representative of Company X in the country. Musk, a self-proclaimed supporter of “absolute freedom of expression,” had refused to comply with an order to block several X accounts as part of a broader investigation into the spread of disinformation and hate speech aimed at undermining Brazil’s democracy.
Musk projects
The Spanish-language section of the website of the American CNN network in a report entitled “What are Elon Musk’s interests in Latin America?” brought: Tesla, Musk’s company, which is a pioneer in the development of electric cars, has turned its attention to the region known as the lithium triangle (joint between Argentina, Bolivia and Chile); However, no official announcement has been made by Tesla in this regard. According to a report by the United States Geological Survey published last January, the Lithium Triangle contains more than 50% of the world’s reserves of this white mineral of high strategic importance in the technology sector, which is a key element for rechargeable batteries.
Musk announced the construction of a Tesla factory in Mexico in 2023, but in July he said that the investment was stopped and he was waiting for the results of the US presidential election next November; An election in which Musk fully supports Republican Donald Trump. Trump has promised to impose tariffs on Mexican production if he wins the election, Elon Musk told investors. Musk has also accepted Trump’s offer to head the Government Efficiency Commission.
Starlink Musk, which provides satellite internet services, also started operating in most Latin American countries in the last two years.
Brazil is also a big market for Platform X; According to market research group Emarketer, about 40 million Brazilians, about a fifth of the population, used X at least once a month.
Business and ideology
Mariana Sendra, a political analyst and researcher at the University of Deusto in Spain, believes: There are very clear economic interests behind the alliances that Musk has forged with Argentina’s President Javier Melli or former Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, but there is also the question of ideological compatibility.
Regarding the connection between Musk and Milley, this expert clarified that they both agree that the government is an obstacle and they see it as an enemy. According to the researcher, Musk talks positively about social media leaders from whom he expects benefits such as tax breaks or regulatory reform. He added: He is a businessman and he says it very frankly.
CNN continued: Although Musk is involved with the government and judiciary of Brazil and wants stricter immigration policies on the southern border of the United States, he shows himself on social networks as if he is not hostile to this region. Milli, a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” traveled to Texas in April, visited Tesla’s factory with Musk and offered support as he faces a legal dispute with Brasilia. Musk has recommended investing in Argentina, and in recent days he told Mille d’X: The example you set with Argentina will be a useful example for the rest of the world.” Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro also called Musk a “legend of freedom” and awarded him an official medal in 2022.
Sandra noted in this regard: It’s important to think about why Musk bought Twitter. He is not a businessman who came from the telecommunication or media sector. He wants to influence and have media power. This platform, despite Musk’s words, is ultimately controlled by economic power.
Ezequiel Saferstein, a sociologist and researcher at Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet), told CNN that Musk’s concept of freedom of speech “is interpreted based on certain interests that can be interpreted in his references to the liberalism he wants.”
Saferstein also emphasized that Musk’s attention to Latin America is in line with both his economic interests and the so-called culture battle that Musk has become an authority on. It is often said that the culture battle is not to talk about economic issues, but I believe it is not.