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April 15, 2025
Huawei is reaffirming its commitment to Europe, pledging continued investment and cooperation despite complex geopolitical shifts. At the Huawei European Partner Conference 2025 in Como, Italy, company leaders presented a strategy focused on its partner network to drive growth across the continent.
“The enterprise business will be Huawei’s main growth engine in Europe, so we will 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 concerns about the reliability of the US as a long-term ally. Recent polling data shows a significant decline in European approval of the US, particularly following policy shifts and rhetoric from Washington. Tariffs on European goods, threats to annex Greenland, appeasement policies toward Putin, and questions about security commitments have amplified this sentiment.
Analysts note a shifting perception in Europe, with the US increasingly viewed by some as a “partner of necessity” rather than a steadfast ally. Some European politicians have even voiced concerns that Washington could be a factor of instability.
This evolving dynamic is leading to calls across the continent for greater strategic autonomy, particularly in the areas of defense and critical infrastructure.
Into this complex geopolitical landscape steps Huawei, a company that has long been at the center of 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 introduce restrictions on Huawei’s involvement in the buildout of their critical 5G networks, often encouraged by sustained US pressure.
A recently uncovered lobbying scandal, which resulted in Huawei lobbyists being barred from EU Parliament and Commission premises, as well as the company’s suspension from the DigitalEurope technology association, has further damaged its image in Brussels.
Despite the continuing uncertainty in the European market, Huawei highlighted its substantial presence—employing over 13,000 people and operating 29 research and development centers across 14 countries. The company emphasized its "Partner + Huawei" strategy, which aims to provide more 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, we can jointly offer the best possible solutions and services for customers across Europe.”
During the Como conference, Huawei showcased industry-specific solutions for sectors like education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and managed service providers, leveraging technologies such as 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 substantial tariffs on global imports, including high levies specifically against China (up to 145%) and baseline tariffs affecting the EU, has disrupted global trade and triggered retaliatory measures.
Some analysts suggest that this friction—coupled with US unpredictability—could subtly push the EU toward closer economic cooperation with China, which itself is seeking alternative markets in the face of US punitive tariffs.
Others, however, caution against this potential shift, citing persistent economic imbalances favoring China and continuing European strategic concerns. The EU also continues to challenge Beijing on trade practices, imposing its own tariffs last year on items such as Chinese electric vehicles.
For now, Europe appears to be treading a cautious path. It seeks to strengthen its own strategic capabilities, engage in tough negotiations with the US on trade, while maintaining a significant, albeit cautious, economic relationship with China.
Despite the controversies, Huawei remains a significant player in the European technology landscape, 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.
Sources:
- https://www.telecomstechnews.com/news/huawei-courts-europe-amid-geopolitical-shifts/
- https://x.com/Gadget_Ry/status/1911805711698325544
- https://x.com/VibewireCentral/status/1911818244601831438
- https://www.ftm.eu/articles/huawei-targeted-in-european-parliament-corruption-probe
- https://www.politico.eu/article/huawei-forum-europe-staff-face-belgian-court-hearings-over-corruption-charges/
- https://patentpc.com/blog/patent-litigation-over-huaweis-5g-infrastructure-what-to-watch
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/14/huawei-lobbyists-barred-temporarily-from-the-european-parliament
- https://www.telecomstechnews.com/
- https://corporateeurope.org/en/2025/03/huawei-corruption-scandal-shows-eu-has-learned-no-lessons-ethics-rules
