Will the romance between Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni translate into an agreement worth more than a billion euros? The prospect of a cybersecurity contract between Rome and the American billionaire’s company SpaceX sparked controversy in Italy this Monday, January 6, with the government of Giorgia Meloni denying the signing of a contract at this stage.
The amount would amount to 1.5 billion euros, says the daily The Corriere della Serawhich like other major Italian media cites the agency Bloombergaccording to which “Italy is in advanced talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a deal to provide secure telecommunications to the country’s government.” The latter, over five years, would be the largest of its type in Europe. It would specifically aim to provide Italy with high-level encryption for telephone and Internet services used by its executive, as well as for the Italian army in the Mediterranean region.
In a message published this Monday on his X network, Elon Musk said he himself was “ready to provide Italy with the most advanced and secure connections.”
“The price to pay for his friendship”
The prospect of this contract, which according to some media was discussed on the sidelines of Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Donald Trump last Saturday evening in Florida, provoked an outcry among the opposition. The head of the Democratic Party (PD, center left, main opposition party), Elly Schlein, demanded this Monday that “Meloni and his government immediately report on the discussions with Musk”. “If 1.5 billion euros of Italian money to use the American billionaire’s satellites in our country is the price to pay for his friendship, we do not agree,” she denounced.
In a press release published this Monday, the government “denies that contracts have been signed or that agreements have been concluded between the Italian government and the company SpaceX for the use of the Starlink satellite communications system.”
“The discussions with SpaceX are part of the in-depth discussions that state bodies have with companies, in this case with those dealing with protected connections,” he adds, therefore recognizing that negotiations are well underway. course. On the other hand, the Italian Prime Minister’s services “categorically” deny press information claiming that the contract with SpaceX was “discussed during the meeting with President-elect Donald Trump”.
The “excellent relations” between Musk and Meloni
Like many big bosses and leaders before her, Giorgia Meloni was received last Saturday in Florida by Donald Trump, who described her as “fantastic” according to American journalists present. Elon Musk, 53, the richest man on the planet, spent at least $250 million in the campaign for Donald Trump, who rewarded him by appointing him to head a commission charged with slashing public spending.
In an interview with the weekly supplement of The Corriere della Sera published Friday January 3, Giorgia Meloni claims to have “excellent relations” with Elon Musk, whom she describes as “a genius” and “an extraordinary innovator and who always looks toward the future”. “It makes me smile to see those who until yesterday spoke of Musk as a genius and who today portray him as a monster, only because he chose the side considered ‘bad’ on the barricade”, also mocked the Italian leader.
A tone which fundamentally contrasts with that of other European leaders, increasingly annoyed by the exacerbated interventionism of Elon Musk in recent weeks on the European continent. With particularly its support for the German far right, the AfD, and its campaign to denigrate British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Emmanuel Macron thus denounced this Monday the support of the boss of Tesla for a “reactionary international news”, while Keir Starmer denounced “those who spread lies and disinformation”. However, it is difficult to imagine Elon Musk setting any limits at the start of 2025.