Italy is having growing doubts about closing €1.5B deal with SpaceX for Starlink

I think that the blowback from the new US administration's policy on Ukraine, Nato etc will be vastly increased defence spending.

However I think it is highly unlikely that the money will be spent outside of Europe. It is now very clear (from a European perspective) that our defence infrastructure to be based on the East side of the Atlantic, and not subject to the whims of the US administration.

Why would any nation use Starlink now that it has been politically weaponized?

After US disabled Himars for Ukraine yesterday Im waiting for Poland to cancel $10 billion Himars contract.

I wouldn't trust Musk. He's a loose cannon and an unreliable partner

Taiwan similarly can't trust Starlink. Putin, on behalf of China, asked Musk to not activate Starlink over Taiwan:

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/musk-putin-secret-conversat...

Taiwan's space agency is developing a domestic system:

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/02/27/...

Why do they need it?

Hmm, _slightly_ pleasantly surprised that Italy's getting nervous now; if any European leader (apart from Orban) was going to side with Trump-world over Europe, Meloni would be the obvious candidate.