Ms Meloni has a close relationship with Mr Trump, too, having visited the president-elect’s at his residence at Mar-a-Lago on the weekend - FILIPPO ATTILI/Shutterstock
Posted on 01/07/2025 9:26:12 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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.
Giorgia Meloni’s government is in advanced talks with the billionaire tech entrepreneur and, according to Bloomberg news, a deal has already been approved by Italy’s ministry and intelligence services.
Ms Meloni has built a close relationship with the Tesla billionaire, describing him last week as a “genius” who had been wrongly presented as a “monster” because of his support for Donald Trump.
On Monday, the Italian prime minister sought to play down speculation about an imminent deal, which has reportedly been under discussion since mid-2023.
"The prime minister’s office denies that any contracts have been signed or any agreements made between the Italian government and the company SpaceX for the use of the Starlink satellite communications system,” Ms Meloni’s office said in a statement on Monday.
There was no denial of negotiations taking place.
Negotiations on the telecoms deal reportedly progressed after Ms Meloni paid a surprise visit to Mr Trump in Florida on Saturday, even though Mr Musk did not attend their meeting at the president’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
Ms Meloni’s office said it was “simply ridiculous” to suggest the deal was discussed during the prime minister’s meeting with Mr Trump.
Mr Musk suggested a deal was close, posting on X on Monday: “Ready to provide Italy with the most secure and advanced connectivity!”
Under the proposed deal, SpaceX would supply Italy with a full range of encryption for telephone and internet services used by the government.
It would include communications services for Italy’s military in the Mediterranean and satellite services for use in emergencies such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Constant satellite surveillance on everybody in the world is not a good thing.
I believe it is more like securing the government’s communications from being hacked.
Keir does not approve.
We are already watched. Cameras on every street and highway. Cameras in every business and government office. ATM and other financial tracking (businesses that will only take cards now like hotels, parking garages, government), and license plate readers all over the place. Eye scanners in public areas is the next big hurdle, think movie Minority Report.
We are not a free society anymore and everyone eats it up because we are hooked on laziness and cool stuff.
Those that sacrifice freedoms for security deserve neither. - Ben Franklin
RE: Constant satellite surveillance on everybody in the world is not a good thing.
Surveillance is a double-edged sword. It can be used to entrap ordinary citizens, to control their lives, yet — It can also be used to capture criminals.
For example — Surveillance was useful in capturing Luigi Mangione after he murdered the United Helathcare CEO.
Same story with the Boston Marathon bombers and all the CCTV footage just recently in Vegas and New Orleans.
In London almost the whole city is covered with cameras.
Yet, we purposely bring Smart phones and Alexa’s into our homes that can be used to monitor us constantly.
Elon needs a little pocket cash.
Oh, but Elon has no right to offer opinions on European politics
Elon is free to offer his opinion and Europeans are free to ignore him. After all as a US citizen he has a 1st amendment right. That said, if I were him, I wouldn’t travel to the UK; they will arrest and jail one for expressing opinions deemed offensive to their woke agenda.
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