The struggle for technology sovereignty in Europe
Apr 05,2021 - Last updated at Apr 05,2021
AUCKLAND — Back when states regularly used armed forces to compel others into compliance or dependence, sovereignty was primarily a geographic and military concept. But the term has more recently taken on an added dimension.
The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, revealed the West’s dependence on China for supplies of face masks and personal protective equipment. And former US President Donald Trump weaponised American technology and payment systems in an effort to advance US interests. Technology sovereignty, or the lack of it, is fast becoming a central strategic issue, not least for Europe.