The spokesperson of the centre-right
Forza Italia party Raffaele Nevi on Monday called for caution
regarding the political choices that affect national security,
speaking to Affaritaliani.it about a potential deal between Rome
and Starlink.
"Caution is always necessary in political choices and in this
case it is a matter of the security of national data so we must
evaluate costs and benefits with absolute serenity", Nevi told
the online news outlet when asked whether Italy should quickly
sign a deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX to use their Starlink
satellites for secure Italian government telecoms.
Nevi also noted that a potential deal "must absolutely not be
based on the emotionality of politics" and should not be
connected "to the friendship with Musk".
"Starlink provides services that we would not be able to have in
another way.
"It is necessary to take a decision without being dragged into a
fandom in favour or against Musk" but rather "choosing in favour
of national interest", also said Nevi.
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on Sunday
called on the government to move forward and sign an agreement
with Musk's SpaceX to use their Starlink satellites.
"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.
On Monday Nevi, whose party is led by Deputy Premier and Foreign
Minister Antonio Tajani, said he was aware of Salvini's position
but the deal needed to be evaluated carefully.
"As Forza Italia, we don't have any preclusion againsts Musk",
he said, adding however that the party disagreed "with certain
statements made by Musk", including that the United States
should pull out of NATO.
"Let's evaluate costs and benefits and potential alternatives,
if they exist" in a "concrete and pragmatic approach" that is
"never ideological", said Nevi.
"The important think is not to sign an agreement with Starlink
because Musk is someone's friend, but only if he guarantees the
national interest", he concluded.
On Saturday, Musk said on X 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.
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