Deputy Premier and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini on Monday said a meeting between Elon Musk and
Italian President Sergio Mattarella would be stimulating,
speaking on the sidelines of an event at the prefect's office in
Milan about the SpaceX owner's request to hold talks with the
head of State.
"I am not in charge of Musk's or president Mattarella's
agendas", said Salvini, the leader of the right-wing League
party.
"Also, I am not the one to decide whether technology A or
technology B is ok", he noted.
"If Starlink connects half the world, I don't see why the Left
should prejudicially say no", added Salvini, referring to a
potential deal between Rome and Musk's satellite provider
Starlink.
According to Salvini, "when national security is discussed,
likes and dislikes should leave the table".
Elon Musk said on X on Saturday that "it would be an honour to
speak to President (Sergio) Mattarella".
The world richest man and chief of US President Donald Trump's
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was responding to a
user who said that Mattarella was trying to stop the Italian
government reaching a deal with his Starlink.
Salvini on Sunday called on the government to move forward and
sign an agreement with Musk's SpaceX to use their Starlink
satellites for secure Italian government telecoms.
"Those on the Left who say no to Musk no matter what are wrong,"
Salvini said at a party event in Milan.
"In my opinion, it's in the Italian government's interest to
sign a contract tomorrow morning with Starlink, which has 7,000
satellites in orbit - not because I like Musk or because I'm
rooting for Trump, because it would improve Italy's national
security.
"I certainly have no desire or intention to put myself in the
hands of the French," he added, referring to the option of an
agreement with French satellite operator Eutelsat.
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