German-American billionaire and PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel reportedly received invitations for private meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2022.
What Happened: In 2018, at a lavish birthday celebration for German entrepreneur Christian Angermayer at Schloss Neuwaldegg in Vienna, Thiel found himself in a conversation with Daniil Bisslinger, a diplomat with ties to the Kremlin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the same party, Bisslinger extended a casual invitation for Thiel to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (which Angermayer had attended in 2012), assuring him of a private meeting with Putin, reported Business Insider.
Thiel, a key figure in Silicon Valley due to his involvement with Palantir and Facebook, was approached at a time when private companies were becoming increasingly integral to U.S. national security.
See Also: Palantir, PayPal Co-Founder Turned FBI Informant — Report Reveals Peter Thiel’s Hidden Role
Although the initial encounter didn’t lead to any immediate action, Bisslinger revisited the invitation more than three years later, in January 2022, amidst rising tensions surrounding Russia’s impending invasion of Ukraine.
Thiel, by this time a confidential FBI informant, grew suspicious of the timing, wondering if the invite was part of a psychological operation to downplay the looming conflict.
Thiel’s revelation of these interactions came after he had become an FBI informant with the code name “Philosopher.”
The FBI reportedly received intel on Bisslinger’s claims that he could arrange meetings with Putin, prompting further investigation into the Kremlin’s attempts to influence Thiel.
The Counterintelligence Perspective: Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director, commented on these two invitations, highlighting their potential counterintelligence implications.
He said, “Anytime a Russian official is inviting someone to meet with Vladimir Putin, that has potential significance.”
It is pertinent to note that while Thiel and Angermayer have known each other for years, the latter’s involvement in introducing Bisslinger to Thiel remains a point of contention.
The Broader Context: Putin’s reported strategic efforts to cultivate ties with influential figures globally, including billionaires like Elon Musk, align with his geopolitical ambitions.
Thiel’s involvement had it materialized, could have provided Russia with unprecedented access to Palantir’s technologies, which have been extensively used by U.S. intelligence agencies, the report noted.
Why It’s Important: Earlier this week, it was reported that while there has been no official announcement regarding Putin’s decision to run for another term during the 2024 Presidential elections, if he does decide to stand, the Kremlin believes that he will come out victorious.
“There has been no formal announcement yet. But I have no doubt that if he puts forward his candidacy, he will win confidently,” said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by mark reinstein on Shutterstock
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