Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that investments by companies owned by Elon Musk, do not pose a threat to Italy.
This follows concerns raised by some regarding the influence of foreign companies.
“I work to have major investments in Italy and evaluate the usefulness of each investment through the prism of our national interest,” the premier told Corriere della Sera in response to a question on risks to national security.
Meloni’s ties to Elon Musk have sparked significant attention in Italy, especially after Musk presented her with an award in New York.
Musk has made notable comments about Italy’s political and business environment.
He urged the country at a time to focus on boosting its birth rate, citing demographic challenges.
Musk also accused Telecom Italia SpA of obstructing the rollout of his Starlink Inc.’s high-speed internet service in Italy.
Meloni is “authentic, honest, truthful — and that can’t always be said about politicians,” Musk said during the award ceremony in September.
The admiration seems to be mutual, with Prime Minister telling Corriere that she views Musk as “a genius” who has been unfairly portrayed “as a monster” due to his political alignment with the “wrong” side.
Other European leaders have been less supportive of Musk, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Deputy Robert Habeck criticizing him in their New Year addresses.
