Europe could soon move to cut its reliance on foreign defense technology, with artificial intelligence emerging as a central concern.
At stake is not only industrial competitiveness, but also operational autonomy, Arthur Mensch, chief executive of Mistral AI, told Politico, arguing that Europe must develop and retain control over its own AI systems for defense purposes.
A significant share of Europe’s digital infrastructure, including systems that could support military and security functions, is still tied to non-European providers, raising concerns about strategic vulnerability in a more fragmented geopolitical environment.
Mensch warned that this dependence could leave European militaries exposed to disruption risks, including the possibility that critical systems might be restricted or shut off in the event of political tensions.
The reliance stretches across key areas such as cloud computing, semiconductors, and advanced software, with much of the underlying infrastructure still in the hands of foreign firms — a situation he described as a structural weakness.
Mistral has put forward policy ideas aligned with this view, calling for “European-controlled AI infrastructure” and stronger use of public procurement to help anchor key capabilities within the region.
Governance Over AI
The debate is gaining momentum ahead of a forthcoming European Commission package on technological sovereignty.
Mensch said decisions on military uses of AI should remain with governments and end users, not technology providers, suggesting a more limited role for industry in setting operational boundaries.
In the US, similar tensions are already playing out.
AI provider Anthropic has clashed with the Pentagon over limits on how its models can be used, including in surveillance and autonomous weapons-related applications.
A federal judge has also raised concerns that the decision to blacklist the company may be punitive, adding to a broader dispute over who ultimately sets the rules for AI in defense.
