EU turns to Brazil, South Korea to counter US tech dominance

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Union is stepping up its technology diplomacy, forging closer ties with Brazil and South Korea to reduce reliance on U.S. tech
• Commission tech official Henna Virkkunen will launch a digital partnership with Brazil and expand AI cooperation with South Korea, while Brussels continues building its own tech sovereignty in cloud, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure

🔭 The context: Europe already has partnerships with Japan, Singapore, Canada, and South Korea
• Brazil offers a market of 160 million internet users and heavy domestic tech investment
• The EU aims to create a network of like-minded nations outside U.S. and China influence to collaborate on data governance, cybersecurity, AI, connectivity, and online platform regulation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Strengthening EU digital sovereignty and diversifying tech partnerships supports the development of secure, energy-efficient, and resilient technology infrastructure
• Reduced dependence on foreign digital platforms can foster greener AI and data center practices, helping limit emissions associated with cloud services and industrial-scale computing

⏭️ What’s next: The EU will turn these bilateral ties into a multilateral network, integrating private sector engagement and digital trade deals
• Talks with the U.S. on tech governance remain limited, while Brussels moves forward with partnerships designed to accelerate AI, cloud, and cybersecurity development under EU rules

💬 One quote: “There are 160 million internet users in Brazil. So, it's a huge market, and they are investing heavily.” – Henna Virkkunen, European Commission

📈 One stat: Brazil ranks among the top 10 global markets for digital technologies, making it a strategic partner for EU tech diversification

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