Germany is monitoring the AI giant Anthropic, will it adopt it!
The United States government has cut ties with AI company Anthropic, prompting a German politician to suggest that Germany and the European Union invite the firm to relocate to Europe and develop its technology under European regulations.
Anthropic, valued at about $380 billion, is known for its large language models called Claude, which are used in a wide range of applications, including software development and drone operations. The company had been working with US government and military agencies since 2024, and reports suggest its AI systems were used during military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
The conflict began when US Defense Secretary بيت هيغسيث demanded that Anthropic remove restrictions in its contracts that prevent the use of its AI systems for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. Anthropic refused the request, arguing that current AI systems are not reliable enough for autonomous weapons and that mass domestic surveillance would violate fundamental rights.
Following the refusal, President دونالد ترامب ordered all US government agencies to stop using Anthropic’s services and labeled the company a “supply chain risk.” The designation, rarely used against American companies, could cost the firm billions of dollars in lost contracts and damage its reputation. Anthropic has since filed a legal challenge against the decision.
The controversy quickly sparked debate in Europe. ماتياس ميفيس, digital policy spokesperson for Germany’s SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands – Social Democratic Party of Germany), proposed that Germany and the European Union offer Anthropic a new base in Europe. In a letter to German Chancellor فريدريش ميرتس and European Commission President أورسولا فون دير لاين, he suggested that cities such as Berlin, Paris, or Munich could host the company’s European headquarters.
The proposal also includes forming a coalition of European investors, including pension funds and public financial institutions, to support the company and strengthen Europe’s “digital sovereignty.” According to ماتياس ميفيس, Anthropic’s stance against surveillance and autonomous weapons aligns with Europe’s legal framework and values regarding technology and privacy.
However, many experts doubt the plan is realistic. دانيال أبو, head of Germany’s AI industry association BVKI (Bundesverband der KI-Unternehmen – Federal Association of AI Companies), said the idea is appealing but difficult to implement. Anthropic is heavily integrated into the US technology ecosystem, with major investors such as Amazon and Google and deep ties to American cloud infrastructure.
Instead of relocating the entire company, experts suggest a more practical approach would be establishing a joint AI research lab in Europe. Such a partnership could help prevent European talent from moving to the United States and support the development of AI innovation within the European market.
The debate also highlights Europe’s broader challenge of achieving “digital sovereignty,” meaning technological independence from US and Chinese companies. While the European Union is introducing new regulations through its Artificial Intelligence Act, some industry leaders argue that Europe still lacks strong venture capital systems to help AI startups scale globally.
European technology leaders warn that dependence on foreign AI systems could create long-term risks for the continent’s economy. According to آرثر مينش, CEO of the French AI company Mistral, artificial intelligence will soon influence a significant share of global GDP, making it essential for Europe to develop its own technology and infrastructure rather than relying on foreign platforms.