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.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy visited Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend, becoming the latest world leader to meet with the president-elect ahead of his inauguration later this month.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni did not discuss the issue of Elon Musk's SpaceX supplying Italy with its Starlink services during her weekend visit to the United States, her office said in a statement on Monday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Florida on Saturday and met with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. Most Read from BloombergIs This Weird Dome the Future of Watching Sports?

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. January 4, 2025. Italian Government/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo MILAN (Reuters) -Elon Musk said on Monday he was ready to provide Italy with secure communication services after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied that the issue had come up during a weekend visit to the United States.

Elon Musk is close to further solidifying his ties with Europe’s right-wing political class as his SpaceX group nears an historic deal with the Italian government to provide security services to the public sector,

Italy is reportedly close to sealing a €1.5 billion (£1.25 billion) deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX that would provide the country’s government with secure telecommunications.

After a unannounced visit to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says SpaceX deal weren't discussed.