American Tech Dependence: A Strategic Risk for Europe
American tech dependence has become a critical concern for European governments, especially following Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. This structural reliance, shaped by decades of political and technological choices, now exposes the European Union to significant economic, strategic, and diplomatic vulnerabilities.
France’s Initiative: Replacing Teams and Slack with National Alternatives
In January 2026, the French government announced the phased replacement of American communication tools like Teams and Slack within public administration. This shift toward French-developed solutions, consolidated under the “LaSuite” initiative, reflects a political will to reduce American tech dependence. The goal is to enhance digital sovereignty by securing public sector communications.
Concrete Geopolitical Threats
The prospect of a forced technological decoupling from the U.S. is no longer hypothetical. European experts highlight the growing likelihood of extraterritorial sanctions, restricted access to critical technologies, and regulatory pressure from Washington. Under Donald Trump, U.S. policy represents a credible threat to the continuity of European economic and public operations.
Institutional Inertia Remains a Major Obstacle
Despite increasing awareness, public institutions face substantial structural challenges in making this shift. The widespread use of Microsoft software and American-hosted servers presents a tough lock-in effect. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein’s transition away from Microsoft illustrates the technical and organisational hurdles involved in adopting European solutions.
Systemic Impact of Technological Choices
When public institutions adopt a particular technology, it triggers a ripple effect across their entire ecosystem—suppliers, partners, and users must follow suit. This dynamic reinforces the dominance of American Big Tech, making change both financially and operationally costly. Symbolic gestures like ditching Slack alone are insufficient to reverse this trend.
Public Procurement as a Lever for Change
Experts argue that public procurement is the cornerstone of any meaningful independence strategy. Redirecting the €111 billion Europe spends annually on U.S. technology toward European providers could serve as a powerful accelerator. This would foster the development of resilient local alternatives and build a robust digital ecosystem.
Businesses on the Front Lines
Any disruption in access to U.S. technology would have severe consequences for European businesses. A Bitkom survey found that 96% of German firms would not survive more than two years without American digital services. This critical dependence spans hardware (smartphones, GPUs) and software (CRM, cloud, AI platforms).
Gradual but Inevitable Decoupling
Despite the costs and complexities, more industrial actors are adopting a hybrid technology approach. While the transition will take time, it is viewed as a strategic imperative. Tools like Jitsi and European cloud providers such as OVH offer credible alternatives. Both agile SMEs and large multinationals must begin integrating local solutions into their digital architecture.
A Strategic Imperative
Moving away from American tech dependence is not an ideological stance—it is an economic and political necessity. Europe has the expertise, talent, and resources to regain control over its digital sovereignty. While the transition demands substantial investment, the cost of inaction could prove far higher in the medium term.
