Meloni says Italy is exploring deals on telecoms security, but denies private talks with Musk

ROME (AP) — Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday that her government is in talks with several private companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, over the country’s telecoms security system, but denied having discussed the issue privately with Musk.

“I never talked about this with Musk. It’s not my habit to use my public role to do favors to friends,” Meloni said, responding to reporters’ questions during her start-of-the-year press conference on a possible deal with Musk’s group over Italian telecoms security.

Meloni stressed that national interest was “the only lens” through which she judged such potential contracts with SpaceX, the owner of satellite system Starlink.

Reportedly worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) and spread over five years, the project sparked an outcry by Italy's opposition parties, questioning that the handling of such communications could be handed to a Musk company.

If the deal is sealed, SpaceX would provide encryption services for the Italian government and communications infrastructure for the military and emergency services.

Earlier this week, Meloni denied forging such a deal with Musk – who has developed a friendly relationship with the Italian premier. A government statement went even further, “categorically” denying that a SpaceX deal was discussed during Meloni’s recent meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago.

“SpaceX allows very delicate information to be communicated securely on a diplomatic and military level,” Meloni told Thursday’s press conference. “Regarding the method, I can say that these are discussions that the government has with many private companies.”

Meloni reiterated that the government is still in an “investigative” phase and no contracts have been signed. “The issue is that there are no public alternatives for these technologies, obviously it’s a question of placing data protection in the hands of a private entity. But the alternative is not having these data protected,” she said.

“Both scenarios are not ideal … If one day communications of sensitive data end up in the wrong hands, the government is responsible,” she added.

SpaceX has been approached by email for comment.

Meloni also noted that Musk’s political ideas could have been the real reason behind the controversy.

“Is the problem related to private investments or to the political ideas of the investors?” she asked the press conference’s audience.

Musk, who’s a close ally of Trump, has openly expressed his enthusiasm for a possible collaboration with Rome, writing on X that his company is “ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity.”

Already active in Italy since 2021, Starlink could expand its services to include emergencies, such as disasters or terrorist attacks. Musk’s group is also developing another project for defence and sensitive operations called Starshield.

Experts in the security field have stressed the increasing sensitivity of European countries sealing partnerships with SpaceX, whose success has put increasing pressure on Europe’s satellite and telecoms industry.

Meloni also defended Musk's freedom to express his political ideas, saying that in her opinion he didn't pose a risk for democracy.

“The problem is when these people use resources to finance parties and associations halfway around the world to influence policies, which I don’t see Musk doing, unlike (American investor and philanthropist George) Soros,” the Italian premier said.

“I consider this a dangerous interference,” she added. "But when it happened, we talked about philanthropists: is the problem that (Musk) is rich and influential or that he is not left-wing?” she asked.

In December, the leader of the right-wing populist Reform party in the U.K., Nigel Farage, said the party was in “open negotiations” with Musk over a donation, although he played down speculation that it could be as much as $100 million.

However, Farage later distanced himself from Musk after the billionaire called for the release from prison of a far-right activist who goes by the name of Tommy Robinson.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, Joe Scally knows U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino is keeping a close eye on him.

The right back wants to deliver a “showcase" of his abilities in what may be his toughest game of the season against Bayern Munich on Saturday.

“Every game, someone from the national team is watching,” Scally said on a recent call with reporters. “For the time being, I'm thinking about club. I’m not really thinking, going into a game, ‘Is the coach watching?’ or something like that, because I’m sure he’ll hear. But playing Bayern is always special.”

Scally is hoping he and Borussia Moenchengladbach can catch Bayern unawares in the first game for both teams this year after the Bundesliga winter break.

“They’re the best team, some could say in the world. In the league right now they’re at the top of the table,” he said. “You have so much motivation for these games and it’s almost like you have nothing to lose. So (you've) just got to go out there and try to showcase yourself.”

Bayern has a four-point lead over last season's champion Bayer Leverkusen but will have to be wary against Gladbach, which has a history of springing surprises on Bayern.

Gladbach has beaten Bayern nine times in the last decade, including in 2021 when Scally played in a 5-0 German Cup demolition of Bayern which ranked among the Munich team's worst ever losses. Bayern goes into the game with a question mark over attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala who is ill, and uncertainty over its goalkeeping options.

Scally's just 22 but the defender from Long Island has already racked up 115 games for Gladbach in all competitions since joining from New York City FC in 2021.

He's also played 19 games for the United States, including every minute of all four games since Pochettino took over in October. How long that streak continues will likely depend on the fitness and form of fellow right back Sergino Dest, who hasn't played since April because of a knee injury.

Scally said he takes “a lot of pride” in being consistent and gathering more top-division experience than many other players his age, and becoming more versatile by playing on the left flank or on the right of a central defensive three.

After then-coach Gregg Berhalter took him to the World Cup in 2022 but didn't play him, Scally said he didn't understand the decision and it affected him “immensely.”

A year and a half out from the World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Scally had warm words for Pochettino.

“We’re still all understanding how we’re going to communicate, things like that, but everything is going in the right direction,” he said.

“You see the way we’ve been playing, everyone has so much confidence. The coach has talked to all of us individually and told us what he likes in each position and everything like that. Everything’s on the right path.”

Bayern could get a boost if Leverkusen drops points at Borussia Dortmund on Friday, while a win for Leverkusen would put Xabi Alonso's team a point off Bayern at the top. It would also put Dortmund at risk of dropping from sixth place to as low as 10th after this weekend.

Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka is doubtful after twisting his ankle but “there is still hope,” Alonso said on Thursday.

On Sunday, Leipzig sorely needs a win at home to Werder Bremen after ending 2024 with a 5-1 loss to Bayern in the Bundesliga and losses in all six of its Champions League games.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Joe Scally, left, of the United States, and Uruguay's Maximiliano Araujo, right, battle for the ball during a Copa America Group C soccer match, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)

FILE - Gladbach's Joe Scally is challenged by Augsburg's Phillip Tietz, right, and Ermedin Demirovic during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Augsburg in Monchengladbach, Germany, Sunday Jan. 21, 2024. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP, File)