Elon Musk seeks Italian presidential meeting to salvage Starlink deal

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: Financial Times

Elon Musk has asked to meet Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, amid growing doubts in Rome about a potential $1.5bn deal with Starlink, the multi-billionaire’s internet satellite provider. Musk wrote on X late on Saturday that it “would be an honour to speak with President Mattarella”, in a bid to salvage a deal that has faced opposition as geopolitical turbulence between the US and Europe intensifies.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has been in talks with Starlink over a potential five-year deal for secure military communications for diplomats, troops and other Italian civil servants working abroad. Meloni, who has forged a strong personal bond with Musk, said in early January that talks were still at the “preliminary stage”, but defended the necessity of a potential deal saying there was “no public alternative” to meet Italy’s secure communication needs.

Yet the deal now looks increasingly likely to be a casualty of a transatlantic rift over defence, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Musk has also repeatedly said on X that the US should leave the Nato security alliance. Musk’s remarks followed a claim by a right-wing social media influencer allied with the multi-billionaire that Mattarella was personally obstructing the deal.

The Italian president, who wields strong moral authority as head of state, has not made any public comment on the Starlink deal or the choices facing Italy as it seeks to enlist a satellite-based internet provider. But he rebuked Musk last year for intervening in Italy’s internal politics, after the multi-billionaire demanded the removal of Italian judges that had ruled against one of Meloni’s flagship initiatives to deter illegal migrants. A spokesman for Mattarella said on Sunday said that the president, currently en route to Italy after an official visit to Japan, had no immediate comment.

Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/ea7e53b8-f831-489d-919c-606149f3af17

[NNadir]

1. I would advise the Italian President to decline meeting or dealing with Musk.

They better than anyone know from their history what is involved in dealing with a country run by a Mussolini. Their Mussolini was in the long ago past; ours is here and now.

[wcmagumba]

2. Considering Musk's irrationality and threats to cut off Starlink to Ukraine I'd go another way.

[Biophilic]

3. Anyone who trusts trump or musk at this point is asking to be betrayed.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Here's my take:

Elon Musk wants the strategic placement of those satellites over Europe.

Elon Musk favors Russia, so Europe shouldn't give him the advantage.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

5. The biggest problem with the tech revolution.

So many of these guys are literally children in their heads. They're like five years old. Him, Zuckerberg, Thiel, these people cannot take responsibility.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

6. Because there is no danger the Co-president might use his political clout to influence the business decision.

This is why government official are not supposed to be doing business that might create the appearance of impropriety, much less a real conflict of interest. I'm betting Musk was not required to go through the mandatory Ethics training all other federal employees have to.

He should be forced to make a choice between his businesses or his government "job".

But who is going to bell the cat?