Author: Angelo Amante
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended Elon Musk’s growing involvement in politics on Thursday and said she had never discussed a potential deal to supply Italy with secure communications.
The right-wing leader dismissed concerns about political interference as the US tech billionaire, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, steps up his commentary on European politics on his X social network.
Meloni has a good relationship with Musk and those ties are in the spotlight in Italy as the government considers a possible deal that relies on Starlink, part of Musk’s SpaceX business.
“I evaluate foreign investments through one lens, which is the lens of national interest, not the friendships or political ideas of those who might invest,” Meloni said.
“I also take this opportunity to tell you that I have never personally spoken to Elon Musk about these things,” Meloni added during the 2-1/2-hour press conference when the subject of Musk was repeatedly brought up.
SpaceX is discussing a five-year contract worth a total of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), a source familiar with the matter said. The project has been sharply criticized by opposition parties questioning whether the management of such communications should be entrusted to Musk’s company.
“We are simply in the investigation phase, which is why I don’t understand all the allegations that have been made. Is SpaceX’s problem that it is a private company, or is it Elon Musk’s political ideas?” Meloni added.
THERE IS NO DANGER TO DEMOCRACY
Italy is evaluating the use of Musk’s space-based telecommunications system to provide secure communications between the government, Italian diplomats and defense officials operating in sensitive areas across the Mediterranean.
Meloni said Italy faces a dilemma on how to protect its sensitive communications since there are currently no alternative systems to Starlink supported by Italy or the EU.
The full introduction of the EU’s IRIS2 (Iris squared) satellite constellation is not expected before the end of 2030.
“Either we’re going to talk to a private company or we’re not going to protect this data. What’s the preferable scenario between two sub-optimal scenarios?” Meloni said.
Musk is setting a political agenda by attacking British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his support for the far-right AfD ahead of next month’s German election.
But Meloni defended Musk’s right to speak his mind.
“I don’t see that danger for democracy. Elon Musk is a very famous and rich person who expresses his ideas,” said Meloni.
