Rome, Italy – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that Italy may utilize Elon Musk’s Starlink service for encrypted satellite communications to connect its military forces globally. She highlighted the absence of a public alternative technology capable of meeting these needs.

Meloni emphasized that Starlink would offer advanced technology, ready for deployment, in contrast to the European collaborative satellite program, IRIS2. Italy is currently discussing a potential five-year contract worth €1.5 billion (approximately $1.55 billion) with Starlink, which encompasses a constellation of 6,700 satellites.

On Thursday, Meloni remarked, “SpaceX has illustrated to the government its technology that allows secure communication nationally and globally,” effectively ensuring communication security for diplomats and military operations abroad. She clarified that while negotiations were ongoing, including discussions with other private providers, SpaceX presents the most advanced technological solution.

Meloni admitted that relying on a private operator for military communication was less than ideal, but emphasized the urgency of the situation due to the unavailability of public alternatives until IRIS2 becomes operational, which is not expected until 2030.

Concerns have been voiced regarding the reliance on a private entity for sensitive military data. Fabiana di Porto, an expert from Rome’s Luiss University, pointed out the potential risks associated with government communications managed by a private operator like Musk’s company. Additionally, there has been sharp criticism from opposition politicians regarding the control of Italy’s military satellite communications, especially given Musk’s history of controversial public statements.

Despite the criticism, Meloni asserted her perspective on foreign investments, prioritizing national interest over personal relationships or political ideologies. She mentioned the absence of complaints regarding prior work done by Microsoft on data centers in Italy, questioning whether the backlash against SpaceX stemmed from its private status or Musk’s political views.

On a separate note, Elon Musk indicated his readiness to offer Italy the “most secure and advanced connectivity,” which suggests an eagerness to engage in potential agreements that could significantly impact Italy’s military communications infrastructure.