Get Over Your X: A European Strategy to Break Free from American Technology
By Giorgos Verdi, Policy Fellow at ECFR
Published: 10 December 2025
Introduction
In an era of growing geopolitical tensions and digital transformation, Europe faces a pressing challenge: its deep reliance on American technology. This dependency spans critical sectors such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite internet, and semiconductors. The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) argues that entrusting foreign technology companies—especially American giants—with Europe’s digital future is no longer viable. Instead, Europe must embark on a path toward technological sovereignty by developing its own capabilities to safeguard its interests and independence.
The Political Backdrop: Tech as a Geopolitical Weapon
The recent political landscape, marked by the return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2026, has only intensified these concerns. In a dramatic move, President Trump issued an executive order titled "Regulating Access to American Technology," granting himself powers to declare a digital security emergency and restrict or shut down U.S. digital services—including cloud platforms, AI applications, and military software—for foreign users. The rationale was framed around national security and maintaining technological supremacy, but the order explicitly cited European digital regulations and taxes as threats.
Such authoritarian use of technology as leverage has thrown digital interdependence into sharp relief. Trump’s administration went further, sanctioning foreign officials and suspending their access to American social media and cloud services. Export controls over advanced AI chips were tightened, subjecting semiconductor exports to individual licenses and agreements contingent on regulatory concessions from the EU. Even American tech companies like Meta and Apple were shielded from European regulatory fines under U.S. protective measures, signaling escalating tensions between the two powers.
Europe’s Technological Dependencies: A Strategic Vulnerability
Europe’s digital dependence on American companies has been well documented. Currently, three U.S. tech giants control about 70% of Europe’s cloud computing infrastructure. American companies dominate phone operating systems, AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have set the global standard, and satellite internet services in Europe are largely monopolized by Starlink. Similarly, Nvidia holds a dominant position in the AI chip market, a key component for Europe’s digital and defense industries. Social media—the modern public squares of European societies—are ruled by American platforms such as Meta and X (formerly Twitter).
This reliance is not just an economic or innovation concern; it has become a geopolitical liability. Trump’s previous actions demonstrated a willingness to weaponize these dependencies for political leverage. The Ukrainian conflict provided a stark example, where U.S. officials reportedly threatened to cut Starlink satellite services unless Kyiv complied with Washington’s mining interests. Sanctions have led to the suspension of services to international officials, and trade disputes have centered on digital regulation battles.
Unfortunately, this is not limited to one administration’s preferences. The Biden administration’s “AI diffusion rule” similarly restricted AI chip distribution to European countries to curb technology leaks to China, without offering negotiations or remedies. Such policies underline that Europe’s dependency may be exploited irrespective of the U.S. political party in power.
The Need for a “EuroStack”: Building Strategic Technological Autonomy
ECFR proposes a pragmatic but bold European response: the creation of an independent technological "stack" dubbed the “EuroStack.” This stack would focus on critical areas where European dependency poses the greatest risk: space technologies, semiconductor manufacturing, cloud computing, and AI.
The goal is not to build a parallel ecosystem from scratch, which would be prohibitively costly and potentially counterproductive. Instead, Europe must develop "just enough" capacity in these fields to extricate itself from points of strategic vulnerability. By doing so, the EU can protect its digital sovereignty against coercion and preserve the integrity of its regulatory frameworks.
Even as the U.S. is expected to push back against European efforts to reduce American dominance, strategically measured concessions can be made without compromising on fundamental sovereignty goals.
Implications for the Future
If the scenario ECFR warns about unfolds—where American technology access becomes a bargaining chip in geopolitical disputes—Europe will find itself at the mercy of external political decisions. This includes potential threats to vital infrastructure, digital services, and even defense capabilities. The example of downgraded fighter jets or compromised AI chip quality for allied nations illustrates the risks of relying on foreign technology embedded with political conditions.
By investing in the EuroStack, Europe would not only strengthen its technological independence but also enhance its strategic resilience in a multipolar world where technology is increasingly weaponized.
Conclusion
Europe faces a critical juncture in its digital future. The era of unquestioned reliance on American technology is ending. To protect its economic prosperity, democratic institutions, and strategic autonomy, Europe must pursue a deliberate and focused strategy to build its own essential technological capabilities. This new digital sovereignty will empower the continent to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the 21st century with greater confidence, resilience, and independence.
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Illustration by Chris Eichberger
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