European governments are moving to reduce their reliance on U.S. tech giants, arguing that digital sovereignty has become a security issue — not just an economic one.
U.S. cloud providers currently control the bulk of Europe’s market, but officials say rising geopolitical tensions have forced a rethink. Estonia’s minister for justice and digital affairs, Liisa Pakosta, described the shift in stark terms. “This has made digital sovereignty a matter of national survival,” she said, pointing to security threats along Europe’s eastern border after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Governments in Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark are now exploring homegrown or open-source alternatives to American platforms. France plans to roll out a state-backed video conferencing tool across government services by 2027, replacing products such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Denmark is testing open-source office software for some public employees, citing concerns about overdependence on foreign suppliers.
The European Union has also acknowledged its “significant problem of dependence” in the digital sphere. Analysts at Gartner predict that spending on sovereign cloud infrastructure in Europe will more than triple by 2027 as governments and regulated industries invest in local capacity.
Still, officials admit U.S. tech companies remain deeply embedded in Europe’s systems. Estonia, for example, continues to work with American hyperscalers while expanding open-source capabilities.
For now, Europe isn’t cutting ties — but it is trying to make sure it can stand on its own if it ever has to.
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