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 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.

Italy’s prime minister accused of currying favour with world’s richest man at expense of European satellite initiative

Recently, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was called to report to Parliament on the negotiations with Elon Musk for the assignment of the connectivity services of the Italian public administration to SpaceX.

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.

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.

What would it mean for Europe's security if Italy decided to join SpaceX's satellite system? Will Giorgia Meloni's government sideline an EU-led project currently under development? View on euronews

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.