*

Italy considers Starlink for secure communications

*

Opposition criticizes potential SpaceX deal, questions

Musk's

political influence

*

Meloni defends Musk's right to express his views

(Recasts with fuller quotes throughout)

By Angelo Amante

ROME, Jan 9 (Reuters) -

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended Elon Musk's

growing involvement in politics on Thursday and said she had

never discussed with him a potential deal to supply secure

communications to Italy.

The right-wing leader dismissed concerns about

political interference

as the U.S. tech billionaire, an ally of President-elect

Donald Trump, steps up his comments on European politics on his

social media site X.

Meloni has a good relationship with Musk and those ties

are in the spotlight in Italy as the government weighs up a

possible contract relying on Starlink, part of Musk's SpaceX

business.

"I evaluate foreign investments through a single lens,

which is the lens of national interest, not friendships or

political ideas of those who may invest," Meloni said.

"I also take this opportunity to tell you that I have

never personally spoken with Elon Musk about these matters,"

Meloni added during a 2-1/2 hour press conference when the

subject of Musk was repeatedly raised.

SpaceX is discussing a five-year deal worth a total 1.5

billion euros ($1.6 billion), a source with knowledge of the

matter said. The project has been sharply criticised by

opposition parties questioning whether the handling of such

communications should be entrusted to a Musk company.

"We are simply in the investigative phase, which is why I

don't understand all the accusations that have been made. Is the

problem with SpaceX that it's a private company, or is it Elon

Musk's political ideas?" Meloni added.

NO DANGER TO DEMOCRACY

Italy is evaluating the use of

Musk's space-based telecommunications system

to provide secure communications between the government,

Italian diplomats and defence officials operating in sensitive

areas across the Mediterranean.

Meloni said Italy faced a dilemma over how to protect

its sensitive communications as there are currently no Italian

or EU-backed alternative systems to Starlink.

Full rollout of the EU's IRIS2 (Iris squared) satellite

constellation is not expected before the end of 2030.

"Either we talk to a private company or we do not

protect this data. What is the preferable scenario between two

sub-optimal scenarios?" said Meloni.

Musk has been setting the political agenda with attacks

on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his endorsement of

the far-right AfD party ahead of an election in Germany next

month.

But Meloni defended Musk's right to speak his mind.

"I do not see this danger to democracy. Elon Musk is a

very well-known and wealthy person who expresses his ideas,"

Meloni said.