Palantir says NATO retains full control over AI system Maven, despite European concerns over technological sovereignty

In a recent statement, Palantir’s executive vice president for the UK and Europe, Louis Mosley, said that neither the company nor the US government could remotely shut down Maven Smart System, an artificial intelligence platform used by NATO to support military decision-making. The statement, made in an interview with Reuters, reinforces the view that buyers retain operational control of the software.

What does Maven do for NATO?

The NATO Communications and Information Agency completed its purchase of the Maven Smart System NATO on 25 March 2025. The contract, whose value was not disclosed, was awarded to Allied Command Operations and officially announced the following month. The system combines artificial intelligence applications, including language models, generative AI and machine learning, to integrate intelligence information, support strategic planning and enhance battlefield understanding.

The platform was implemented in stages, with training beginning in August 2025 at NATO’s Joint War Centre and operational use in the Steadfast Deterrence exercise in May of the same year. On 22 June 2026, Maven achieved full technical operational capability and received security accreditation to operate on the alliance’s classified network, allowing its use in exercises, missions and other activities.

How does technological sovereignty fit into the discussion?

NATO describes Maven as a command and control system connector capable of incorporating AI models from different vendors, citing examples such as France’s Mistral and America’s Meta. In its material on sovereignty in artificial intelligence, Palantir argues that customers should control data, rules and permissions, and be able to switch models as needed. The company offers options for deployment on local infrastructure or on a sovereign cloud, although the configuration contracted by NATO has not been publicly detailed.

Concerns about dependence on foreign suppliers also motivated the European Union. In June 2026, the European Commission presented a technological sovereignty package covering semiconductors, cloud, AI and open source, including a common framework for assessing the autonomy of cloud and artificial intelligence services.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Maven Smart System NATO? It is an artificial intelligence platform from Palantir adopted by NATO to integrate information, support planning and inform military decision-making.
• When did NATO buy Maven? The acquisition was completed on 25 March 2025, with an official announcement published the following month.
• How much did NATO pay for the system? The contract value has not been publicly disclosed.
• Can Palantir shut down NATO’s Maven? The company says no, but this guarantee has not been subject to independent technical verification.
• Has Maven been approved for NATO’s classified network? Yes, according to a statement from the alliance, and it achieved full technical operational capability on 22 June 2026.
• Does Maven accept European AI models? NATO indicates that the platform is compatible with models from different vendors, including France’s Mistral and America’s Meta.