ROME (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday she had never discussed with Elon Musk a potential deal to use his Starlink to supply secure communications for the military. Meloni,

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

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended Elon Musk's growing involvement in politics on Thursday and said she had never discussed with him a potential deal to supply secure communications to Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni clarified that she has not discussed using Elon Musk's Starlink for military communication projects worth 1.5 billion euros. She emphasized Italy's national interests as pivotal in such decisions amidst opposition concerns about involvement with SpaceX.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed claims of striking a deal with Musk, with whom she has developed a cordial relationship.

Italy's defence minister sought on Wednesday to defuse a political row sparked by a report that Italy planned to ask Elon Musk's Starlink to supply new secure communications services for use by the military.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied Thursday talking to Elon Musk about a cybersecurity deal with the American billionaire's SpaceX company following reports that sparked controversy in Italy.

Italy's far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said on Thursday Elon Musk's political interventions only caused outrage because he wasn't left-wing -- and that foreigners had been interfering in Italian politics for years.