The Italian government is negotiating with SpaceX to acquire secure satellite communications services through the Starlink network, which has caused a significant political and economic outcry in Europe. According to Bloomberg, Italy is considering a $1.6 billion deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This proposal has raised concerns about Europe’s sovereignty in the sensitive area of secure telecommunications, Ars Technica writes.

Negotiations between Italy and SpaceX, which began in mid-2023, allegedly reached an impasse until Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent visit to US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida. This information caused a wave of criticism from European officials who see the potential deal as a threat to Europe’s strategic autonomy.

On Monday, the Italian government issued a statement denying that it had signed any contract with SpaceX. The statement also “categorically” denied claims that Starlink services were discussed during Maloney’s meeting with Trump. However, the government acknowledged that negotiations with SpaceX are ongoing.

Starlink is already commercially available in Italy, but its potential use for government purposes could be a game changer. Such a move could undermine the EU’s efforts to create its own secure satellite communications network called IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite). This initiative envisages the launch of 290 satellites and will cost the European Union 10.6 billion euros. It is scheduled to be launched by 2030 and is considered an important step towards Europe’s digital sovereignty.

The possible deal with SpaceX has drawn sharp criticism from both Italian and European officials. Antonio Misiani, a senator from the opposition Democratic Party of Italy, called the deal “an unacceptable sale of national sovereignty.” Meanwhile, Benjamin Irdi, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former adviser to the Italian government, told the Financial Times that the deal would send a negative signal to Europe. “Iris² is a symbol of Europe’s strategic autonomy, and a key EU member shifting to a different solution can be interpreted as a sign of divestment from that,” Irdi noted.

The potential deal also highlights concerns about Elon Musk’s growing influence in Europe. Since Trump’s election victory, Musk has increasingly supported far-right movements on the continent, particularly in Germany, the UK, and Italy. Maloney publicly expresses his admiration for Musk, considering him an ally in the defense of Western values. One of Musk’s advisors in Italy, Andrea Stroppa, said in September: “Elon recognizes Giorgia Meloni’s leadership. And he sees in her the same thing he sees in Donald Trump, someone who can defend Western values ​​in danger.”

European officials, particularly those involved in digital and space policy, are closely monitoring Musk’s influence. Thierry Breton, the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market who was behind the IRIS² initiative, criticized the possible deal in an article for la Repubblica. “All EU countries supported the launch of IRIS². Italy also participated, and I think it was the right step because it is an important element of our sovereignty,” Breton said.

The growth of SpaceX in the global space launch market has put serious pressure on the European aerospace industry, in particular on the Italian rocket manufacturer Avio. The continent depends on Musk’s technology, which creates discomfort, especially when he violates European laws and supports politicians who threaten political stability in Europe. The potential deal with Italy is another step in Musk’s growing influence in European affairs, jeopardizing the EU’s collective efforts to build its own space infrastructure.