Constructing Digital Sovereignty in the Cyber Age: A Comparative Analysis of the EU and India’s Strategic Autonomy and the Role of the Trade and Technology Council

This study examines the role of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) as a discursive space where digital sovereignty is negotiated, contested, and, in some areas, aligned. Using a constructivist approach and political discourse analysis, the research investigates how the European Union (EU) and India conceptualize, operationalize, and articulate digital sovereignty within the TTC. By analyzing policy documents, official statements, and ministerial outcomes, the study identifies convergence in AI and semiconductor cooperation, where digital sovereignty is framed as a tool for strategic autonomy and technological resilience. Conversely, divergences in data governance and cybersecurity persist due to fundamentally different sovereignty claims—the EU favors regulatory control and global interoperability. At the same time, India prioritizes state-driven digital nationalism and security-focused policies. The findings suggest that digital sovereignty is not a fixed concept but an evolving discourse shaped by institutional negotiations and geopolitical pressures. The TTC serves as a mechanism for policy coordination and a structured arena for sovereignty contestation, allowing the EU and India to maintain strategic engagement despite regulatory divergences. However, the study also reveals limitations in the TTC’s ability to harmonize sovereignty claims in deeply contested areas, such as cross-border data flows and cybersecurity governance.