LONDON (AP) — Microsoft pledged Wednesday to fight any U.S. government order to halt data center operations in Europe as it sought to soothe concerns among European customers that trans-Atlantic tensions would lead to service disruptions.
The company's president, Brad Smith, said it's not something that officials are talking about in Washington, D.C. but it is a “real concern” for Microsoft's customers across Europe, which include governments.
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Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks at a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks during a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith, center, arrives for a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks at a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
President Donald Trump has stoked tensions between the U.S. and Europe with his tariff-fueled trade war, and alarmed European leaders with policy changes, including pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine, that throw into doubt his administration's commitment to the trans-Atlantic relationship.
Smith, speaking at an event in Brussels, tried to allay concerns as he announced that the company was expanding data center operations across Europe.
“What we want Europeans to know is that they can count on us,” he said in a speech.
“In the unlikely event we are ever ordered by any government anywhere in the world to suspend or cease cloud operations in Europe, we are committing that Microsoft will promptly and vigorously contest such a measure using all legal avenues available, including by pursuing litigation in court,” Smith wrote in a Wednesday blog post.
He noted that Microsoft has experience fighting lawsuits from the previous Trump administration as well as from former President Barack Obama’s administration.
“If we ever find ourselves losing we will put in place business continuity arrangements” that include storing computer code in Switzerland that European partners can access, he said.
Microsoft is making five digital commitments to Europe, including increasing its data center capacity by 40% over the next two years and expanding data center operations in 16 countries, Smith said. He did not list the countries. The expansion will cost tens of billions of dollars annually. Smith declined to be more specific about the cost when asked by reporters.
The expansion comes amid calls for Europe to assert tech and data sovereignty by weaning itself off reliance from big U.S. cloud data service providers, including Microsoft, Amazon and, to a lesser extent, Google.
“Given recent geopolitical volatility, we recognize that European governments likely will consider additional options,” and Microsoft is committed to collaborating with European companies, Smith said.
Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks at a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks during a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith, center, arrives for a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Microsoft's President Brad Smith speaks at a conference on digital resilience during geopolitical volatility in Brussels, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Lions know what it takes to compete with the best in the loaded NFC after a 41-34 loss to the conference-leading Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
But with three games and zero margin for error remaining to make the playoffs, the Lions are running out of time to be able to put those lessons to use.
“You know what it is. And we’re not there right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Doesn’t know we can’t be, but now we know what it looks like, and you got to get better. We got to get better. We got to move on. Can’t sulk about it. Can’t felly sorry for ourselves. We make the corrections, and we move on.”
The Lions (8-6) haven’t made the postseason in three consecutive campaigns since 1993-95, and understood coming into the weekend that even winning out might not be enough to get a playoff berth and end that streak.
They came out with a first half worthy of the Super Bowl aspirations they entered the season with, taking a 24-14 lead with 30 seconds remaining behind a dynamic passing attack from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, plus a jaw-dropping interception by edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson on a tight end screen and returning it 58 yards.
“Aidan made a great play,” Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Looked like he was the primary receiver on the damn play. Made me look silly in space.”
But the Rams (11-3) snatched a field goal to end the second quarter, and the Lions could not regain momentum after the break, going three-and-out on both possessions in the third quarter while the defense gave up 17 points.
Goff pointed to ineffectiveness on first down in the second half, forcing the offensive line into situations where Los Angeles could turn to its powerful pass rush. Campbell essentially agreed, noting an overall inability to run the ball as Detroit had two carries for 11 yards in the third quarter, plus a holding penalty which negated a first down and left the offense facing third-and-long.
“But, the bottom line is, we weren’t able to convert, and so then we strung the defense out, and then all of a sudden it flips,” Campbell said. “You’re up 10, you’re down 10, and that was a rough quarter for us.”
The Lions finished with just 70 yards rushing on 20 carries, having failed to win any of their five games this season when totaling less than 100 yards on the ground.
Goff went 25 of 41 for 338 yards and three touchdowns, finding St. Brown 13 times for 164 yards and two scores and Williams seven times for 134 yards and a score, though their overall effectiveness dropped off in the second half.
Detroit needs to win its final three games — against Pittsburgh, at Minnesota on a short week, and at Chicago — and get help to have a shot at the playoffs
Goff expressed belief the Lions can still put a streak together, even after alternating wins and losses for the past 10 games.
“We’re resilient,” Goff said. “I hope I can give you a really good answer in a couple weeks. But we’re resilient. We really are, and I expect us to bounce back from this, and we still have plenty of stuff in front of us.”
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff answers questions after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell answers questions after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks up at the scoreboard during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) walks off the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
