SAP CEO Christian Klein has made it increasingly clear in recent months where he stands. And by his words and actions, that’s no longer on the side of Europe. The high-profile German software industry executive is starting to look less like a guarantor of European digital sovereignty, and more like a Trojan horse for American interests.

Klein recently vented his frustration about the debate over sovereign cloud infrastructure, claiming the discussion is headed in the wrong direction. He has called for a unified definition of sovereignty – a reasonable demand, at first glance. But his interpretation may fall short, especially from a European perspective. To Klein, sovereignty in the cloud seems to have little, if anything, to do with the influence of US hyperscalers. In fact, he becomes visibly agitated when addressing the issue. Competing with the hyperscalers, he says, would be „completely insane.“

While many experts might agree that challenging Amazon, Google or Microsoft head-on would be futile, Klein's stance gives the impression that the CEO of Europe’s biggest tech firm is placing himself squarely behind its American partners. Yet simply acknowledging dependence on US platforms doesn’t justify embracing it without conditions. In doing so, Klein risks becoming a mouthpiece for US tech giants. In Washington, it’s often said with a shrug that encrypted data is safe – even if the US gains access, it would still be scrambled. Klein echoes that logic, viewing the issue largely through an American lens.

He often argues that clients themselves are not particularly concerned about this kind of sovereignty. But a Bitkom survey from June paints a different picture. It shows widespread concern in Germany’s business community – and a growing desire for domestic cloud providers. According to the study, half the companies using cloud computing are rethinking their strategy in light of US policy.

SAP’s alignment with the US isn’t limited to the cloud debate. The company’s stance on diversity has also been shaped by its transatlantic ties. In response to the policies of President Trump, SAP has scaled back some of its own diversity goals. Officially, the company maintains its commitment, but the influence and dependency on the US market have proven too powerful to fully push back against American political headwinds.

Of course, it’s important to recognize that SAP generates a substantial portion of its revenue in the US, where the public sector is a key customer, and compliance with local regulations is essential. Klein’s tone toward the US has been notably conciliatory. In May, he spoke highly of his discussions with Trump, calling them „constructive“. His remarks likely reflect not just political pragmatism, but also SAP’s shareholder base, which includes significant US institutional investors – a group the company openly wants to expand.

Klein’s recent pivot on the cloud issue marks a sharp reversal. Earlier this year, fellow board member Thomas Saueressig published an op-ed in Tagesspiegel arguing that „Europe must become a digital fortress.“ He warned of „strategic dependencies“ and suggested that without digital sovereignty, Europe’s very defence capabilities could be at risk. In contrast, Klein seems to be waving the white flag – downplaying those dependencies. It may be a classic case of wishful thinking colliding with commercial reality. Or perhaps, as with the diversity debate, it’s simply more profitable for SAP to remain tethered to the US than to push for greater independence.