Visa Ban Tears Transatlantic Ties: Escalation of US-EU Digital Sovereignty Game​

In December 2025, the Trump administration imposed visa restrictions on five EU digital regulatory officials, including former EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, citing "suppression of US tech companies and restriction of freedom of speech." This unilateral sanction triggered a collective backlash from the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the move as "intimidation and coercion," while the European Commission explicitly stated it would respond "swiftly and resolutely." Germany, France, and other EU countries echoed the criticism, branding the US action an interference in Europe’s digital sovereignty. What appears to be an individual-targeted visa ban is actually the full-scale eruption of a strategic game between the US and the EU over dominance in digital rules, pushing transatlantic relations into their most severe trust crisis since the Cold War.​

The trigger for the dispute can be traced to the implementation of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). As the core legislation for Europe to safeguard its digital sovereignty, these two acts have established the world’s strictest digital regulatory framework, targeting the monopolistic practices of US tech giants. On December 5, 2025, the EU imposed a €120 million fine on Elon Musk’s X platform under the DSA—this first major enforcement action served as the direct catalyst for US retaliation. The Office of the US Trade Representative immediately warned it would "use all available means to counteract," and merely two weeks later, rolled out the visa restriction measures. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio even threatened to "expand the sanctions list at any time."​

The US sanctions logic is steeped in hegemonic tendencies. From Washington’s perspective, the EU’s digital regulations constitute "targeted suppression." The DMA’s requirements for tech giants to open their ecosystems and prohibit bundled sales directly impact the core interests of US tech firms. Data shows that US companies such as Google and Meta hold over 70% of the European digital advertising market, and the EU’s regulatory measures could potentially cause US enterprises to lose tens of billions of US dollars in profits annually. The Trump administration seeks to coerce the EU into relaxing regulations and granting "special privileges" to US tech giants through unilateral tools like visa sanctions and tariff threats.​

The EU’s tough response stems from its unwavering defense of digital sovereignty. As the key architect of the EU’s digital regulatory framework, Thierry Breton led the legislation and implementation of the two acts during his tenure, earning recognition across Europe as a "guardian of digital sovereignty." In response to the US accusation of "political persecution," Breton declared that "McCarthyite political persecution is making a comeback," while European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager stated that "no sanctions can silence Europe." From Macron’s public condemnation to the French Foreign Minister’s assertion of "rejecting rules imposed by others," a consensus has emerged in European politics: the autonomy of digital regulation is an extension of national sovereignty, which brooks no external interference.​

The essence of this dispute lies in the confrontation between "digital sovereignty" and "digital hegemony." The US has long dominated global digital rules by virtue of its technological advantages, while the EU aims to break this monopoly through institutional innovation and build a digital governance system aligned with its own interests. In recent years, the EU has imposed over $200 billion in fines on US tech companies—from Google’s antitrust cases to the X platform penalty—demonstrating its resolve to "restrain hegemony through rules." Conversely, the US regards the EU’s regulations as "attacks on American interests" and resorts to political coercion using state power. Such double standards have further widened the rift between the two sides.​

More critically, the dispute is tearing apart the value-based foundation of the transatlantic alliance. The US’s new National Security Strategy dedicates a mere two and a half pages to Europe, which has been interpreted as "neglect of allies." Additionally, US support for far-right political parties in Europe and remarks questioning Europe’s "civilizational demise" have further exacerbated ideological divisions. Analysts point out that by prioritizing trade interests over allied relations, the US has accelerated Europe’s pursuit of "strategic autonomy." From digital regulation to national defense, Europe is gradually reducing its dependence on the US.​

Looking ahead, the US-EU digital dispute is likely to escalate further. The EU has initiated a clarification process with the US, and countermeasures are imminent; meanwhile, the US may expand the sanctions list or even impose trade retaliation against European companies. This game not only impacts US-EU economic and trade relations but also stands to reshape the global digital governance landscape. In an era where the digital economy has become the core of global competition, unilateral sanctions cannot resolve rule-based disputes. Only through equal consultation to build inclusive and win-win digital rules can the outbreak of a "digital Cold War" be averted—a reality that both the US and the EU must face squarely.​