Italian opposition leaders roundly criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for engaging in talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on a €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) deal for encrypted communications systems.

Elon Musk said on Monday he was ready to provide Italy with secure communication services after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied that the issue had come up during a weekend visit to the United States.

Elon Musk is close to further solidifying his ties with Europe’s right-wing political class as his SpaceX group nears an historic deal with the Italian government to provide security services to the public sector,

After a unannounced visit to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says SpaceX deal weren't discussed.

Billionaire Elon Musk is looking to carve out a role in Italy's telecommunications system by expanding his aerospace business Space X and satellite broadband venture Starlink.

The Italian government is in advanced talks with Elon Musk's company about securing government communications. The $1.6 billion contract is planned to be implemented over five years. This is set to be the largest project of its kind in Europe and has already been approved by Italian intelligence services and the Ministry of Defense.