Merz: Google Cloud is sovereign enough for intelligence agencies

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for European digital sovereignty and independence from U.S. technology companies at the Digital Summit, calling it an "existential question" amid AI development. However, he contradicted this stance shortly after by endorsing Google Cloud as a secure partner for Germany's intelligence agencies' new offline cloud solution, arguing that American providers can still enable European sovereignty through European infrastructure. The decision highlights tensions between Europe's stated goal of reducing dependence on U.S. tech giants and the practical challenges of competing with established hyperscalers.