NATO Strengthens Digital Sovereignty with Google Cloud’s Air-Gapped AI Infrastructure

A multi-million-dollar partnership brings secure, AI-enabled sovereign cloud capabilities to NATO’s most sensitive operations

NATO has taken a decisive step toward deep digital modernization by signing a multi-million-dollar agreement with Google Cloud to deploy next-generation sovereign cloud capabilities. Announced jointly from Brussels and Sunnyvale, the partnership marks one of NATO’s most significant cloud modernization moves to date: one that enhances data governance, fortifies operational security, and accelerates the alliance’s ability to adopt advanced AI-driven tools.

At the center of this agreement is Google Distributed Cloud (GDC), selected by the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) to support the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC). This infrastructure will help JATEC manage classified workloads, modernize its systems, and improve operational readiness across the alliance.

A critical component of the deployment is GDC air-gapped, Google Cloud’s most secure sovereign cloud environment. Completely disconnected from the public internet, this air-gapped system allows NATO to run highly sensitive AI, analytics, and data-processing workloads inside fully isolated, hardened environments. For NATO, this means the ability to extract insights from mission-critical data while maintaining absolute operational control, an essential requirement for any organization reliant on strict digital sovereignty.

Google Cloud emphasized the strategic nature of the collaboration. “Google Cloud is dedicated to supporting NATO’s critical mission to develop a robust and resilient infrastructure and harness the latest technology innovations,” said Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA. She noted that the agreement will help NATO “accelerate its digital modernization efforts while maintaining the highest levels of security and digital sovereignty.”

The NCIA echoed the significance of the partnership. Antonio Calderon, NCIA’s Chief Technology Officer, said the alliance is focused on leveraging next-generation technologies, including AI, to strengthen operational capabilities and protect NATO’s digital environment. Collaboration with industry leaders like Google Cloud, he said, is essential to building a resilient, scalable cloud infrastructure capable of protecting highly sensitive data across NATO and its partners.

The sovereign cloud environment that NATO will rely on GDC air-gapped, is specifically designed for workloads requiring strong data residency and stringent security controls. With no internet connectivity and no dependency on public cloud infrastructure, it ensures that highly classified data remains within NATO’s sovereign territories and under NCIA’s direct command. NATO will also gain access to advanced analytical capabilities that enhance efficiency across the alliance.

Beyond security, this deployment represents a larger inflection point: defense alliances worldwide are recognizing that modern cloud infrastructure and AI are now foundational to mission readiness. By integrating sovereign cloud and AI capabilities, NATO positions itself to better respond to emerging threats, analyze complex data environments, and coordinate across its members with greater precision.

Google Cloud, which serves customers in over 200 countries and territories, is positioning its sovereign cloud solutions as core to supporting institutions handling sensitive or classified data. The company’s AI stack: from custom-built chips and models to analytics and collaboration tools—is designed to support organizations looking to transform securely.

Integration of GDC air-gapped for NATO will begin in the coming months.

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