Donald Trump’s return to the White House has intensified concerns in Europe: the continent’s critical infrastructure depends on American cloud services, and in an era of political volatility, this reliance is increasingly seen as a genuine risk. As Politico reports, the issue goes beyond data privacy—raising fears of potential technical coercion by the United States.
The United States retains control over most of Europe’s digital infrastructure
Three American firms—Amazon, Microsoft and Google—command more than two-thirds of Europe’s cloud-computing market. Their platforms underpin everyday life, from e-mail and video streaming to government communications and industrial analytics. But convenience has bred dependency: any segment of the continent’s digital backbone could fall under Washington’s direct control.
That prospect is all the more troubling given statutes such as the U.S. Cloud Act, which lets American authorities seize data even when it is stored abroad. Advocates of European digital sovereignty have warned about such risks for years—now the issue is on the agenda at the highest political levels.
Sanctions against the ICC prosecutor confirm that a cut-off is possible
The episode involving the International Criminal Court in May 2025 proved a watershed. After the United States imposed sanctions in response to an arrest warrant for Binyamin Netanyahu, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan lost access to his corporate e-mail hosted on Microsoft’s servers. The company refused to elaborate, saying only that it "has neither terminated nor suspended the provision of services".
"Trump really despises Europe. He believes the EU was created solely to ‘rip off’ America," observed Zak Myers of the CERRE think-tank. In his view, the threat of a switch-off now appears far more plausible than it did six months ago.
Alexander Windbichler, head of the Austrian cloud provider Anexia, said the industry had long preferred to ignore political risk. "I didn’t expect the United States to want Greenland seriously either—and that is surely more absurd than pulling the plug on the cloud," he remarked.
Microsoft and Amazon Pledge Stability but Remain Bound by U.S. Law
Microsoft and Amazon were quick to announce measures aimed at reinforcing trust. Microsoft said it would include contractual commitments to ensure uninterrupted service for European public sector clients and to challenge any suspension orders. Brad Smith acknowledged that the risk remains low, but called it "a real cause for concern."
Amazon unveiled a new governance model for its "sovereign" cloud in Europe. Employees were pre-briefed on how to respond to questions about hypothetical sanctions: promise that services will remain operational.
But as MEP Aura Salla points out, "U.S. companies are legally obliged to comply with U.S. law. That means we cannot rely on systems that remain under foreign control."
The EU Pushes EuroStack as a Homegrown Alternative to U.S. Cloud
Brussels is considering a broader response. The EuroStack initiative envisions a fully autonomous digital infrastructure—hardware and software included. The estimated cost is €300 billion. Its guiding principles: "Buy European," "Sell European," and "Fund European."
Proponents stress there is nothing radical in the idea. Similar policies have been standard practice in the U.S. for decades—public procurement was key to the rise of American tech giants. The project has already won support from several EU countries and has been included in Germany’s coalition agreement.
But critics remain skeptical. "They’re asking for hundreds of billions. That’s overly optimistic," said Myers. According to estimates by the U.S.-based Chamber of Progress, expanding the plan to the entire digital sector could push costs above €5 trillion.
The U.S. Intervenes in European Cloud Labeling Legislation
A parallel effort is legislative: a proposal to introduce a labeling system for cloud services, certifying their compliance with security standards and independence from foreign jurisdictions.
Progress has stalled. As Politico revealed, the United States has actively sought to influence the initiative since September 2023. The State Department sent multiple communications to the European Commission, urging it to soften key provisions. The Commission’s tech department refused to release the correspondence, citing potential damage to EU–U.S. trust.
France emerged as one of the proposal’s staunchest advocates, viewing the label as a way to shield European data from U.S. laws. "Geopolitical tensions compel us to rethink the sovereignty of our data and how it is stored," said French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz.
Even the Netherlands, traditionally cautious, has begun to reconsider its position.
Europe Realizes Its Reliance on the U.S. Has Become a Strategic Liability
"Cloud infrastructure is like a water tap. But what if someone suddenly shuts it off?" asked Benjamin Revcolevski of OVHcloud. Speaking at a June 5 briefing, EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen acknowledged: "The EU risks becoming vulnerable to the instrumentalization of its own technological and economic dependencies."
Professor Francesca Bria added: "There’s a growing sense that Europe is just one executive order away from losing critical infrastructure. It’s now clear the continent cannot depend on an external power that might simply pull the plug."
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