European policymakers are intensifying efforts to reduce the continent's reliance on U.S. technology, a concept known as "digital sovereignty." This long-simmering ambition has gained urgency due to geopolitical tensions and concerns over the unpredictable nature of U.S. policy, including the potential for weaponized sanctions that could compel American firms to disrupt services.
The push targets critical digital infrastructure, particularly cloud computing, software services, AI, and semiconductors, where firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are dominant. In response, the European Commission and several member states are backing initiatives to expand domestic cloud capacity, fund open-source alternatives, and establish data infrastructure governed solely by European law. The goal is not an immediate decoupling but a gradual reduction of dependency to ensure Europe can operate its critical systems independently.