Elon Musk\u2019s allegiance to Trump is once again stirring up controversy \u2014 this time over Starlink. The satellite internet provider, owned by Musk\u2019s firm SpaceX, has become embroiled in a hot debate among Italian politicians, as Rome weighs its strategic alliances amid mounting tensions between Europe and the US.<\/span><\/p>\n Italy\u2019s right-wing League party is pushing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s government to choose Starlink to provide satellite communications for government officials, citing the superiority of its technology<\/a> over French rival Eutelsat. Starlink has around 6,700 active satellites in orbit, while Eutelsat has just over 600.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the Italian interest it would be odd to choose a French entity instead of a more technologically developed and avant-garde system like the American one,\u201d the League said in a statement late on Thursday, <\/span>Reuters<\/span><\/a> reported.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Musk welcomed the remarks. He replied \u201cmuch app<\/a>reciated,\u201d to a post on X that referred to the statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n BREAKING: Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini releases statement questioning Italian government\u2019s move away from Elon Musk\u2019s \u201ccutting-edge\u201d Starlink to subpar French product with Chinese shareholders.<\/p>\n Salvini: Telecommunications security is fundamental, USA is a strategic partner\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ygCeXPGihM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n TNW Conference – Celebrating Women in Tech <\/p>\n Helping bridge the gap for women with our Women in Tech pass – all the benefits of the event for a discounted price.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Meloni has considered using Starlink to provide encrypted satellite communications for officials in high-risk areas for a while now. However, opposition parties have warned against relying on Musk\u2019s firm \u2014 a concern heightened by reports that the US may cut Ukraine off from Starlink if a minerals deal is not reached, potentially severing a critical tool in Kyiv\u2019s fight against Russia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are signs that Meloni might be cooling on Musk\u2019s firm too. <\/span>Bloomberg<\/span><\/a> reported yesterday that the Italian government was having \u201cgrowing doubts\u201d about closing the Starlink contract, valued at <\/span>\u20ac1.5bn, in light of escalating transatlantic tensions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If Italy were to drop the proposed deal, <\/span>an alternative provider that\u2019s attracting interest in Eutelsat<\/span>. <\/span>The firm\u2019s CEO <\/span>Eva Berneke <\/span>said Tuesday that the company was in talks with the EU about extending its internet service to Ukraine, sending its shares <\/span>soaring 119%<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n In an interview<\/a> on Thursday, Berneke said the company was also in discussions with Italy. However, Meloni\u2019s office told Reuters that it had not yet entered any formal negotiations with Eutelsat or other operators.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The debate is part of a broader discussion in Italy and Europe about reducing reliance on non-European tech for critical infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n Starlink isn\u2019t the only Musk venture that\u2019s recently come under scrutiny. The fortunes of his car company, Tesla, have also been linked to his political manoeuvres. <\/span>New registrations of Tesla vehicles <\/span>plummeted <\/span>across Europe <\/span>last month<\/span>, a trend which analysts have linked to Musk\u2019s role in the Trump administration and his open support of far-right politicians<\/span>. However, Tesla registrations were <\/span>up slightly<\/span><\/a> in the UK and the US in February, so there\u2019s one win for Elon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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