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Italy's Meloni Confirms €1.5 Billion SpaceX Talks, Says Musk 'Not a Danger to Democracy'

Jan 9, 2025, 04:13 PM

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that her government is in preliminary talks with Elon Musk's SpaceX to provide secure communications for the Italian government via its Starlink satellite network. The potential €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) deal, which could represent Europe's largest encrypted communications system, aims to enhance Italy's telecom security capabilities. At a press conference on Thursday, Meloni stated that she has not personally discussed the Starlink contracts with Musk. "I have never personally spoken to Elon Musk about Starlink contracts for Italy," she said, adding, "I don't do favors for friends." Meloni emphasized that talks are in a preliminary phase and that there are currently "no public alternatives" to Starlink available. She defended Musk against criticism, asserting that he is not a danger to democracy. "Elon Musk is not a danger for democracy; George Soros is," Meloni declared. She suggested that Musk draws ire because "he is not left-wing." The discussions with SpaceX have raised security and competition concerns in Italy. The potential deal represents a significant move in enhancing encrypted communication capabilities for government use.