Microsoft has pledged to oppose any U.S. government directive that would force the company to shut down its cloud operations in Europe, aiming to ease concerns among its European customers amid growing trans-Atlantic tensions.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, addressed the issue during an event in Brussels, acknowledging that while the topic isn’t currently being discussed in Washington, it’s a genuine concern among European clients, including government entities.
Tensions between the U.S. and Europe have been strained under former President Donald Trump, particularly due to trade disputes and policy shifts, such as the suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which have caused uncertainty about the U.S.’s commitment to its European allies.
In an effort to reassure customers, Smith announced that Microsoft is significantly expanding its data center operations across Europe. “We want Europeans to know they can rely on us,” he stated in his speech.
He further emphasized in a blog post that if Microsoft were ever instructed by any government to suspend cloud services in Europe, the company would immediately and strongly challenge the order through all legal means, including court litigation.
Smith highlighted Microsoft’s track record of legal battles with both the Trump and Obama administrations. He added that if legal efforts were to fail, Microsoft would implement backup strategies—such as storing critical code in Switzerland to ensure continued access for European partners.
As part of its commitment to Europe, Microsoft is making five key digital promises, including increasing its data center capacity by 40% within two years and expanding operations across 16 countries. While Smith didn’t specify which countries are included, he said the investment would cost tens of billions of dollars annually, without giving an exact figure.
This move comes amid rising calls within Europe for greater digital sovereignty and reduced dependence on major U.S. tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
Smith acknowledged the geopolitical uncertainties and said Microsoft is ready to partner with European firms to support the region’s digital independence goals.
