Palantir’s AI systems are increasingly integrated into the military strategies of the Western world.
Recently, during the NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump expressed his frustration with Spain, labeling the country a “terrible partner” and a “wasted cause.” This unusual term appears to blend “waste of space” with “lost cause.” Trump also called for an end to US-Spanish trade, a complex move given that such trade falls under US-EU agreements.
Trump tells Scott Bessent and Marco Rubio to cut off trade and diplomatic visits with Spain while the head of NATO watches uncomfortably.
“I don’t want to do any more trade with them, alright? Immediately—don’t even talk to them.” 😭 pic.twitter.com/qEAO48xnJS
— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) July 8, 2026
Trump’s animosity toward Spain stems from multiple factors, including the Pedro Sánchez government’s steadfast refusal to meet his demands to increase military spending to 5% of GDP. The Sánchez administration contends such an increase would jeopardize its welfare state and financial sustainability.
Remarkably, just ten hours after his tirade, Trump praised the Spanish government for fulfilling a request for significant payments. Reports indicate that Spain clarified its commitment to a 2% investment and contributed forces for a NATO mission in Finland.
Trump went from “Spain wasted cause” to “Spain so generous” in the space of 10 hours. What happened? Madrid rocked up with a pile of documents, detailing that it is spending money and where. With big charts and bold-font %. That did the trick.
— Maria Tadeo (@mariatad) July 9, 2026
Other grievances include Spain’s opposition to allowing US military access to joint bases for potential operations against Iran. Additionally, Spain has been a vocal critic of US actions in the Middle East and has advocated for stronger EU-China relations.
Spain’s recent decision to cut ties with Palantir, the US data surveillance firm known for its close connections to the Trump administration and co-founder Peter Thiel, has particularly displeased the White House. Last week, Madrid blacklisted Palantir from government contracts over security concerns about sensitive state data. According to The Candle, directives were issued to companies under the State Society of Industrial Participations (SEPI) to halt future contracts with Palantir:
The Spanish Prime Minister’s Office instructed organizations handling sensitive communications and military intelligence to discontinue any dealings with Palantir, citing security and data vulnerability concerns. Notable casualties of this ban include ongoing projects with Navantia and collaborative efforts involving the Guardia Civil.
Despite these restrictions, a contract worth over $18 million with the Armed Forces Intelligence Center (CIFAS) remains active until November. Although military leadership has requested that Defense Minister Margarita Robles renew the contract, an official decision from the Prime Minister’s Office has yet to be announced.
Spain’s position reflects broader shifts in Europe.
In mid-June, France’s domestic intelligence service replaced Palantir’s AI tools with a domestic provider to mitigate strategic dependency on foreign tech. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated, “We must use our own AI models; we cannot accept new strategic dependencies in the digital sphere.” The French DGSI intelligence agency is set to transition to software from ChapsVision, though this change may take years due to prior contracts with Palantir.
Germany has also rejected Palantir’s services, as both the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) and the military (Bundeswehr) opted for ChapsVision instead. Vice Admiral Thomas Daum labeled the idea of granting a private US company access to sensitive national databases as “inconceivable.” However, this does not equate to a total ban, as various state police forces still utilize Palantir’s “Gotham” platform.
In an interview with Bild, Palantir CEO Alex Karp expressed bafflement at the Bundeswehr’s decision, noting:
“Every serious battlefield in the world uses parts of Palantir. There’s a reason for that,” he remarked. He questioned Germany’s hesitation to adopt their technology given his roots and fluency in German.
Switzerland was the first European country to turn away Palantir, rejecting its proposals multiple times due to concerns over potential reputational damage and the necessity of their software. Despite initial interest from the Swiss Army, fears regarding the protection of confidential military data from US intelligence led to the project’s abandonment. Palantir even resorted to legal action against a Swiss magazine that reported on these rejections, but the court dismissed most of its claims.
The common themes among these countries include digital sovereignty and data security. Governments are increasingly cautious about relying on foreign systems for sensitive information management.
In the UK, Palantir’s extensive involvement in government services has been under scrutiny. Since 2020, the company has secured over £670 million in contracts across civil and defense sectors, leading to significant ethical and national security concerns. Key contracts include £330 million with the NHS and £240 million with the Ministry of Defence. Recently, following the Mandelsongate scandal, politicians have called attention to these contracts, with the mayor of London halting a £50 million deal with the Metropolitan Police.
🚨 BREAKING: Health workers and activists took over Brighton beach this evening to demand the UK Government terminates Palantir’s contract with NHS England.
Palantir is a U.S. software company that renewed its partnership with Israel’s military in January 2024 – when there was… pic.twitter.com/31HoGzu8pY
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) June 26, 2026
As the fallout from the scandal continues, Palantir’s role in the NHS has been labeled an “unacceptable weakness.” The company is now facing legal challenges over its contracts in various sectors, highlighting public concern over its influence.
Palantir says UK police contract wrongly blocked over perceived ‘values’ https://t.co/fcUe5wI5oj
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 9, 2026
The future of Palantir’s involvement in the UK government may hinge on the decisions of potential new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose sentiments toward the company remain unclear. Early reports suggest he may maintain a hard stance against Palantir’s contracts, contrasting with the previous Labour administration that welcomed the firm.
If Burnham enters office, one of his first challenges will be deciding on a £330 million contract between NHS England and Palantir, a decision that could have wide-ranging implications.
As European nations cautiously distance themselves from Palantir, NATO’s reliance on the firm is escalating. Recently, NATO announced that Palantir’s Maven Smart System has become integral to its operations amid a digital transformation on the battlefield.
The recent NATO summit will be remembered for the unsung death of Europe’s much heralded defence sovereignty drive. By surrendering its military operations to Palantir, Europe became even less sovereign than the Gurkhas were in Britain’s Imperial Army… https://t.co/R76CqoFIOA
— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) July 8, 2026
Palantir’s system is already employed by the US military and has significantly contributed to operations in the Middle East and Ukraine. NATO is increasingly entrusting Palantir with mission-critical tasks as tensions with Russia heighten:
Inside the NATO military headquarters near Mons in Belgium, a new artificial intelligence system runs on a secret network. It will change how the alliance deters — and, if necessary, fights — Russia.
Built by Palantir, the American tech company that critics fear has become too powerful, NATO’s Maven Smart System is a command and control platform powered by AI that speeds up response times from hours to minutes.
The system integrates data from NATO countries to identify vulnerabilities and inform resource deployment.
As Europe grapples with a complex relationship with Palantir, the company’s influence continues to grow within NATO. It raises questions about the authenticity of European nations’ resistance to US surveillance and the extent to which such firestorms reflect genuine shifts in policy or mere tactical maneuvering in discussions with the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Palantir’s technology is becoming increasingly entrenched in the military strategies of Western powers, all while raising concerns over civic accountability and ethical data use.
