Just days before former U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit, the UK government has signed a £400 million ($543 million) contract with Google Cloud, aimed at enhancing defence capabilities and deepening cooperation with the United States.
In a statement on Friday, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the agreement will allow both countries to use the same cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity tools, reinforcing their long-standing intelligence and security alliance.
“The deal will strengthen secure communication links between the UK and US, complementing our already extensive defence and intelligence partnership,” the MoD stated.
Under the agreement, British defence intelligence and national security experts will gain access to Google Cloud’s latest technologies. The MoD emphasized that while both nations will operate on the same technological platform, data stored within the system will remain under UK control and will not be shared with the US through the platform.
Google Cloud is also expected to make significant investments in the UK, including the recruitment of a specialist team to manage the programme locally.
Defence Secretary John Healey assured that the system will operate under strict data sovereignty and security protocols to ensure that all sensitive information remains securely within UK jurisdiction.
Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said the partnership would help the UK government build a resilient and secure infrastructure while leveraging cutting-edge technology.
“This collaboration supports the MoD’s digital transformation while maintaining the highest levels of security and data sovereignty,” Brady added.
The announcement comes as several major U.S. tech leaders are expected to accompany Trump during his state visit to the UK next week.
