Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni said her government is in talks with private companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, over the country’s telecoms security system, but denied having discussed the issue

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday she had never discussed with Elon Musk a potential deal to use his Starlink to supply secure communications for the military. Meloni, who has a good relationship with Musk,

Giorgia Meloni’s love-in with Donald Trump confidant Elon Musk looks like it might be paying off, with reports suggesting that her government is poised to sign a $1.56 billion telecommunications deal with Musk’s SpaceX.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised to keep supporting Ukraine, as the leader of the embattled nation, Volodymyr Zelensky, reached Rome for talks on Thursday evening. Meloni welcomed Zelensky at her official residence for a private discussion that lasted just under an hour.

The right-wing leader dismissed concerns about political interference as the tech billionaire, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, steps up his comments on European politics.

Italian opposition leaders roundly criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for engaging in talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on a €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) deal for encrypted communications systems.

Billionaire Elon Musk is looking to carve out a role in Italy's telecommunications system by expanding his aerospace business Space X and satellite broadband venture Starlink.

Reports that Elon Musk's SpaceX is in advanced negotiations with the Italian government over the provision of internet and telecommunications via its Starlink system have raised security and competition concerns.

Andrea Stroppa, Elon Musk's Italian representative, on Tuesday blasted media coverage of reports that were subsequently denied of an agreement between the Italian government and the world's richest man's SpaceX company.