Huawei courts Europe amid geopolitical shifts

Huawei has underscored its dedication to Europe, pledging continued investment and collaboration amid complex geopolitical shifts.

Speaking at the Huawei European Partner Conference 2025 in Como, Italy, company executives detailed a strategy centred on its partner network to drive growth across the continent.

“Enterprise business will be Huawei’s key growth engine in Europe, so we’ll invest more in it,” stated Willi Song, President of Huawei Europe Enterprise Business. “Our approach is always to work with partners to build an open ecosystem.”    

This reaffirmation comes against a backdrop of increasing European unease regarding the reliability of the US as a long-term ally. Recent polling data indicates a significant drop in European favourability towards the US, particularly following policy shifts and rhetoric emanating from Washington. Tariffs on European goods, threats to annex Greenland, appeasement of Putin, and questions surrounding security commitments have fuelled this sentiment.

Analysts note a changing perception within Europe, with the US increasingly viewed by some as a “necessary partner” rather than an unshakeable ally. Some European political figures have even voiced concerns that Washington could be a factor of instability.

This evolving dynamic is prompting calls across the continent for greater strategic autonomy, particularly in defence and critical infrastructure. “If you keep punching your allies in the face, eventually they’re going to stop wanting to buy weapons from you,” commented one anonymous Western European defence official to POLITICO.

Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius recently called for “a good balance” between US and European equipment, adding that “we are learning — for the moment at least — that we should rely more on ourselves.”

Into this complex geopolitical landscape steps Huawei, a company that has long been a focal point in the technological and political tug-of-war between the West and China.

Security concerns, particularly regarding the potential for its equipment to be used for state surveillance by Beijing, persist. While never definitively proven, these fears have led several nations in Europe – including the UK, Sweden, and France – to implement restrictions on Huawei’s involvement in their critical 5G network rollouts, often encouraged by sustained pressure from the US.

A recent lobbying scandal – resulting in Huawei lobbyists being banned from EU Parliament and Commission premises – and the company’s suspension from the DigitalEurope tech association, has further tarnished its image in Brussels.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty in the European market, Huawei highlighted its substantial presence—employing over 13,000 people and operating 29 R&D centres across 14 countries. The company emphasised its ‘Partner + Huawei’ strategy, aiming to provide increased resources and support to its European partners through incentive frameworks and joint marketing funds.

Xia Xingchang, VP of Europe Enterprise Business at Huawei, commented: “Our partners are at the heart of our enterprise business. Thanks to them, together we can provide the best possible solutions and services for customers across Europe.

“Our message is clear: we are grateful for your support and want to further strengthen our partnerships, because collaboration is the main driver of our mutual success.”

During the Como conference, Huawei detailed industry-specific solutions for sectors like education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and managed service providers, leveraging technologies like Wi-Fi 7, AI, and cloud services.

Tim Tao, President of Huawei Cloud Europe, positioned intelligent transformation as “Europe’s key opportunity for the next decade,” highlighting Huawei Cloud’s role in serving over 6,000 European enterprises.

The strained transatlantic relationship, exacerbated by US tariff policies, adds another layer of complexity. The Trump administration’s imposition of significant tariffs on global imports, including steep levies specifically targeting China (reaching 145%) and baseline tariffs affecting the EU, has disrupted global trade and prompted retaliatory measures. While a temporary pause in escalation between the US and EU offers a window for negotiation, the underlying tensions remain.

Some analysts posit that this friction – coupled with US unpredictability – might subtly push the EU towards closer economic engagement with China, which is itself seeking alternative markets amid the punitive US tariffs.

However, others caution against this potential shift, citing persistent economic imbalances favouring China and ongoing European strategic concerns. The EU also continues to challenge Beijing on trade practices, imposing its own tariffs on items like Chinese electric vehicles last year.

For now, Europe appears to be navigating a careful path. It is attempting to bolster its own strategic capabilities, engage in tough negotiations with the US over trade, while maintaining a significant, albeit wary, economic relationship with China.

Huawei, despite the controversies, remains a significant player in Europe’s tech landscape and is banking on its established partnerships and technological offerings to weather the geopolitical storm. The coming years will reveal how Europe balances its security concerns, economic interests, and shifting alliances in this new global order.

(Photo by Immo Wegmann)

See also: Alex Leadbeater, GSMA: Security collaboration vital as attack surface grows

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Tags: 5G, china, connectivity, eu, europe, european union, huawei, mobile, network, politics, Security, telecoms