Brussels, Belgium – European defense officials are opposing Brussels’ efforts to reduce its reliance on American technology giants. They have warned that this move could leave the continent with less sophisticated systems and increased cyber risks. Furthermore, it would create significant difficulties in coordinating joint military operations with NATO members. This information was revealed by the Financial Times.
Geopolitical vulnerability and fears of dependency
As European countries scramble to rebuild their military capabilities to counter potential “Russian threats” and Washington’s direct involvement wanes, security officials acknowledge that heavy reliance on tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft represents a clear geopolitical vulnerability. In response, the European Commission has proposed new legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of foreign technology in the most sensitive public sector systems.
Technological gap and fierce opposition to rules
However, senior defense officials and defense industry companies argue that prematurely adopting less efficient domestic technology threatens national security. They estimate the United States has an eight- to ten-year lead in cloud computing and defense-focused artificial intelligence. Officials have emphasized that many critical weapons systems, such as the F-35 fighter jet, would not function smoothly without the American technological infrastructure. Strongest opposition to these stringent requirements comes from Eastern European and Scandinavian countries. Given this context, legislative amendments are expected soon.
