Italy’s Meloni denies discussing SpaceX deal with Musk [Video]

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told local media she has ‘excellent relations’ with Elon Musk.Photo: Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/FileSource: AFP

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied Thursday talking to Elon Musk about a cybersecurity deal with the American billionaire’s SpaceX company following reports that sparked controversy in Italy.

“I have never spoken personally with Musk about these matters,” she told journalists at her annual press conference in Rome.

In the wake of Meloni’s whirlwind visit with President Donald Trump in Florida on Saturday, Italian media reported that Rome was in advanced talks with SpaceX for a 1.5-billion-euro ($1.6 billion) contract to provide Italy with secure telecommunications.

In a message posted on his X network on Monday, Musk said he was “ready to provide Italy with the most advanced and secure connections”.

Meloni acknowledged on Thursday that “SpaceX has presented the government with …