A $6bn question hangs over SUSE's sovereignty pitch

SUSE used its annual SUSECON event to heavily promote its European digital sovereignty credentials, even as reports emerge that majority stakeholder EQT is exploring a $6 billion sale that could transfer ownership to a US buyer. CEO Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen argues SUSE would remain a European company regardless of shareholder nationality, though critics note US ownership would expose customer data to the CLOUD Act. SUSE's Global Head of Sovereign Solutions distinguishes between US customers focused on data security and European customers concerned about vendor jurisdiction. The company sees growing demand for sovereign solutions — 98% of surveyed IT leaders prioritize digital sovereignty — but does not expect a mass exodus from hyperscalers, predicting instead a selective reassessment of where mission-critical workloads run.