Donald Trump’s repeated attempts to acquire Greenland have brought a sharp question into focus for European nations: how reliant are they on US technology, and is decoupling even possible? While outright boycotts are unrealistic, the geopolitical pressure is forcing a re-evaluation of digital sovereignty. The situation highlights a long-term trend of dependence that many European governments are only now addressing.
The Reality of US Tech’s Reach
A full boycott of US tech is impractical. Switching from an iPhone to a Samsung still places users within Google’s Android ecosystem, a US-based entity. Even Chinese alternatives like Huawei merely shift reliance to another geopolitical power. This extends beyond hardware: dominant social networks (Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat) and streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video) are overwhelmingly American. TikTok, despite its Chinese origins, is increasingly subject to US influence. Spotify remains a rare exception as a major non-US daily-use platform.
This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about infrastructure. European public services are heavily reliant on US platforms like Microsoft and Google. This creates a vulnerability: a hostile US administration could disrupt European operations with relative ease. The current debate over Greenland is forcing a hard look at this dependency.
Emerging Alternatives, But With Limitations
Europe is not without options. French firms have developed Qwant (a search engine) and Mistral (a ChatGPT competitor). Niche smartphone manufacturers like Spain’s Liberux Nexx (Linux-based) and Germany’s Volla (proprietary OS) offer alternatives, but they lack mainstream appeal.
The bigger question is whether governments and companies can systematically reduce dependence. Some already are: a November summit in Berlin produced seven policy points to bolster European tech firms. The “EuroStack” initiative advocates for “buying, selling, and funding” homegrown cloud computing, AI, and connectivity services, as only 1% of the European Commission’s digital infrastructure is currently European-owned.
The Cost of Sovereignty
Building a sovereign digital stack will be expensive—possibly in the trillions of euros—but advocates argue it is essential for long-term security. Relying solely on cost and past open-market principles, without considering geopolitical risks, is increasingly naive. Many corporate and public-sector systems are locked into Microsoft and Google ecosystems, making transitions difficult.
Is It Too Late?
Some decision-makers question whether decoupling is even feasible before Trump leaves office in 2029. Yet, even if immediate impact is limited, inaction is the greater risk. “Starting now is the only way to have real options in the future,” says Tommaso Valletti at Imperial College London. Geopolitical turbulence demands a more robust approach to tech independence.
The path forward is not easy, but it’s unavoidable. Europe must begin building alternatives now to avoid a future where its digital infrastructure is held hostage by foreign powers.
