Finland’s Intelligence Chief Warns Europe Is Trapped by Tech Dependency on US and China

Europe's Growing Tech Dependency Raises Alarms

According to Главком: During the Lennart Meri Security Conference in Tallinn, Juha Martelius, head of Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service, voiced serious concerns about Europe’s reliance on the United States and China for technology. He argued that the continent will likely never achieve full independence from foreign tech, comparing the situation to a body afflicted with two inoperable cancers that must be managed rather than cured.

“The European continent is like an organism struck by two types of cancer that cannot be surgically removed-but we have to live with it,”

Martelius said. He also stressed the critical need to safeguard sensitive information, stating:

“Foreign companies must not be allowed access to data that is essential for national security.”

Soaring Arms Prices and Defense Budgets

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur highlighted a sharp rise in military costs, reporting that prices for weaponry and military equipment across Europe have jumped by more than 50% over the past two years. This surge follows the expansion of NATO members' defense budgets after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), defense spending among European NATO members in 2025 increased at the fastest rate since 1953. In parallel, Poland has called for raising NATO’s spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP, with a deadline of 2030 to reach that level.

Martelius noted that European nations must decide whether they are prepared to rely solely on their own capabilities in the future or continue depending on support from U.S. allies. The European Commission is expected to unveil a Technology Sovereignty Package in the coming weeks, a move that could mark a significant step toward strengthening Europe’s technological autonomy. Finland has already abandoned plans to store election data in the cloud, reflecting a broader push to protect its own data.

These issues are becoming increasingly urgent amid the shifting global political landscape and the need to bolster Europe’s defense capabilities. Rising arms prices and growing military expenditures underscore the challenge for Europe to strike a balance between technological independence and cooperation with allies. The Technology Sovereignty Package being prepared by the European Commission could serve as a pivotal milestone in shaping European defense strategies, especially in the face of mounting threats from Russia and other international actors.

As Europe grapples with its technological dependencies, the situation is further complicated by shifting military dynamics. For instance, Germany's interest in Ukraine's drone capabilities highlights the urgent need for European nations to bolster their defense strategies amid reduced U.S. troop presence. This underscores the critical intersection of technology and security that Martelius emphasizes in his warnings.