Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed concerns that investments by Elon Musk’s companies pose a risk to Italy, emphasizing her focus on securing beneficial investments for the nation.
“I work to have major investments in Italy and evaluate the usefulness of each investment through the prism of our national interest,” Meloni stated in an interview with Corriere della Sera when asked about potential national security threats.
Meloni’s rapport with Musk, the world’s richest individual, has drawn attention in Italy.
The tech mogul even honoured her with an award in New York, underscoring their connection.
Musk, as reported by Bloomberg, has taken an active interest in Italy’s political and business landscape.
He has warned of the country’s declining birthrate and accused Telecom Italia SpA of hindering Starlink Inc.’s high-speed internet rollout.
The two leaders have also explored collaboration in areas such as space and artificial intelligence, aided by Italy’s updated regulatory policies that now accommodate foreign space firms.
During the September award ceremony, Musk praised Meloni, calling her “authentic, honest, truthful — and that can’t always be said about politicians.”
Meloni reciprocated the admiration, describing Musk as “like a genius” in her Corriere interview, adding that he has been unfairly vilified for his political stances.
While Meloni’s view of Musk is positive, other European leaders have taken a harsher stance. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his deputy,
Robert Habeck, criticized Musk during their New Year addresses, citing his support for a far-right party in a February snap election.
Musk, who was part of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, is also set to play a significant advisory role in the new U.S. administration.
