Brussels, Belgium. The European Union is increasingly focused on reducing its dependence on the United States for critical digital technologies, as deteriorating transatlantic relations raise concerns about strategic vulnerability. Analyst Justin Nogarede said the EU’s reliance on US—and to a lesser extent Chinese—technology and infrastructure is both a political and economic weakness.
Dependence on critical technologies
Nogarede, a digital transition specialist and analyst at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Germany, said in an interview that dependence on foreign technology can no longer be treated solely as an economic reality in an unstable geopolitical environment. He said it should be viewed as a potential strategic liability.
Risks linked to service restrictions
The debate over digital sovereignty, he said, extends beyond technology to issues of political power and values. He pointed to concerns over what could happen if a US administration under President Donald Trump were to prevent American technology companies from providing services in Europe.
As an example of potential disruption, reported restrictions have affected judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, who for months have faced limitations in accessing services from companies such as Microsoft and Amazon, as well as financial networks including Visa and Mastercard, following decisions that drew criticism from Washington.
Limits of full digital autonomy
Nogarede said the central issue is what the EU can realistically do to safeguard its interests. He argued that full digital autonomy would be economically prohibitive and ultimately unattainable, and that the priority should instead be to reduce technological dependence while remaining integrated in the globalised digital economy.
Defining digital sovereignty and political momentum
Nogarede said he does not consider debates over precise definitions to be particularly useful, arguing that no consensus exists. He said most analysts would agree the EU’s dependence on the US, and to a lesser extent China, for crucial digital technologies and infrastructure is a liability and that the EU should work to reduce it, particularly in the current geopolitical context.
He said digital sovereignty cannot truly be achieved in the sense of maintaining absolute control over digital infrastructure and technology without foreign interference or influence.
Nogarede said the issue could have taken centre stage after the Snowden spying revelations in 2013 but did not, citing the political context at the time, including US President Barack Obama’s standing among liberal elites in the EU. He said the debate gained momentum with Donald Trump’s rise to power in 2016 and especially his return to power in 2025, adding that hostile rhetoric from Trump and US Vice-President J.D. Vance has been difficult for EU elites to ignore.
He also cited accelerated digitalisation during the Covid crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and a growing view that digital dependence is harming productivity growth, while describing these as secondary factors.
Is digital sovereignty mainly about technology, or is it ultimately about political power and values?