The magnate Elon Musk approaches the prime minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni following a series of ongoing negotiations regarding the sale of the SpaceX space system to the European nation. In the middle, a series of doubts arise about the possible sale, with the focus on the possible risk of hypersensitive security data.
It is the question that has kept many in Italy awake since last Sunday, just when the premier, Giorgia Meloni, a friend of Musk, returned from a whirlwind trip to the United States, the Bloomberg agency reported this bombshell news, which generated a new political storm. .
If Musk sells and Meloni buys: what can happen?
The proposal is based on a five-year contract with SpaceX, valued at 1.5 billion euros, and It would be the largest of its kind in Europe. It is currently in an advanced state after the recent meeting between Meloni and Musk at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s residence in Florida. The day after the meeting, the Italian government denied having signed any contract with SpaceX.
However, the recognition of the conversations raises concern among sector experts and politicians, especially given the Italy’s participation in the development of the EU satellite network, IRIS2, scheduled for launch in 2029.
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.@elonmusk is a leading figure in global innovation: a potential agreement with him and @SpaceX to ensure connectivity and modernization across Italy would not be a threat but rather an opportunity. I am confident that the government will move forward in this direction because…
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) January 6, 2025
This type of investment carries a certain sensitivity, because it involves complex issues such as defense, military, securitywith decisions that cannot be taken quickly or alone, but must be debated by Parliament. Meloni’s vice, Matteo Salvinicelebrated the meetings and called Musk a “leading figure in global innovation.” He also detailed that “a possible agreement with him and @SpaceX to guarantee connectivity and modernization throughout Italy It would not be a threat but rather an opportunity“.
What we know so far
The Italian executive denies having closed agreements, but they do not rule out continuing talks with SpaceX, which leaves their commitment to the IRIS2 project in the background. “The conversations with SpaceX are part of the normal conversations that State departments have with companies,” Giorgia Meloni’s office said in a statement.
Elon Musk echoed the enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that SpaceX is “ready to provide Italy with the most secure and advanced connectivity“Starlink, which has already been operating in Italy since 2021serves about 50,000 customers, but could expand its services to include emergencies, such as disasters or terrorist attacks.
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Ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 6, 2025
The Meloni administration denies the signing of an agreement
“The government denies that contracts have been signed or agreements have been closed between Italy and the SpaceX company for the use of the Starlink satellite communications system,” a statement said. He admitted, however, the existence of “deals that are part of the normal analyzes that the State apparatus has with companiesin this case with those that deal with protected connections for the requirements of cryptographic data communication.”
Source: Ambito
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