Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, has dismissed reports that the country has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide secure military communications. His statement comes amid growing political controversy over whether Italy should rely on a private, foreign-owned satellite network for its national security.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Crosetto clarified that no contracts had been signed or approved by the defense ministry with SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink. While Italy is evaluating secure communication options, Crosetto emphasized that no final decision had been made.
Opposition Raises Security Concerns Over Starlink’s Monopoly
The controversy began after Musk publicly offered Starlink’s services to Italy, which is considering secure communication solutions for its military, government officials, and diplomats operating in sensitive regions. Reports suggested that a potential deal could be worth €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) over five years.
However, opposition parties have fiercely criticized the possibility of entrusting Italy’s national security to a private monopolist like Musk. Nicola Fratoianni, an opposition lawmaker from the Greens and Left Alliance, warned that relying on a foreign-owned satellite network could pose a major security risk.
“Minister Crosetto overlooked the fundamental question,” Fratoianni said. “You can’t entrust national security to a private monopolist.”
Italy Weighing Alternative Solutions
While Starlink presents an immediate solution, the European Union’s IRIS² satellite system is also being developed to provide secure, encrypted communications for EU nations. Crosetto hinted that Italy could explore developing its own proprietary technology for secure military communications instead of depending on foreign providers.
Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, a former Italian ambassador and chairman of the IAI foreign policy think tank, suggested that an open, transparent public tender should be held to ensure the best data protection and security measures.
While he personally does not favor Musk, Nelli Feroci noted that if a competitive bidding process determined that Starlink offered the best service in terms of cost, security, and efficiency, then Italy should consider it as an option.
A Growing Debate in Europe
Musk has claimed that other European nations will want to “borrow” Starlink if Italy moves forward with the deal. However, as the Italian government faces political and security concerns, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s satellite network will play a role in Italy’s defense strategy.
For now, the Italian defense ministry insists that no decision has been made, and any future deal would require thorough evaluation and transparency to safeguard national security interests.
