MIDDLE EAST - Tensions linked to Iran and the wider crisis in the Middle East are driving new discussions about technological sovereignty, especially in artificial intelligence, as governments rethink how secure their digital infrastructure really is during conflict.
Technological sovereignty generally refers to a country’s ability to control and protect its own digital systems and critical technology without depending too heavily on other nations.
The idea has gained momentum in recent years as countries race to benefit from the rapid growth of AI and its economic potential.
But experts say the latest regional conflict has shown that achieving full AI independence may be more complicated than expected.
Speaking at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’s 2026 Emerging Tech Symposium on Thursday, researchers and policy experts warned that data centres and digital infrastructure are increasingly vulnerable during war.
“Since the Iran war started, we’ve seen data centres targeted,” said Jared Mondschein, a scientist at Rand Corporation and former US State Department official focused on emerging technology and cyberspace.
Mr Mondschein said discussions about protecting data centres have traditionally focused on cyberattacks and unauthorised access, rather than physical attacks such as missiles or drones.
“The discussions I was in rarely revolved around kinetic risks. Frankly, it’s just a really hard problem,” he said.
He added that protecting privately owned digital infrastructure from military attacks remains difficult not only in the Middle East, but also in countries such as the United States.
Experts at the event said the conflict has exposed a key challenge to the idea of digital sovereignty: even countries seeking greater technological independence still rely heavily on global networks and international systems.
Kevin Allison, president of Minerva Technology Futures, said having data centres spread across different countries can actually make systems more resilient during crises.
He explained that if one data centre is damaged or shut down during an attack, services can often be transferred to facilities in other regions.
“AI and technological sovereignty should not necessarily mean closing off the rest of the world,” Mr Allison said.
The issue has also drawn attention from US officials. Jacob Helberg recently said the conflict with Iran highlighted how physical infrastructure, including ports, cables and trade routes, can quickly become part of the battlefield.
He said the US-led Pax Silica initiative aims to strengthen technology supply chains and improve co-operation between countries as global demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow.
