Trump angry over Google's $15 billion Finland plan, demands rethink

Technology giant Google has drawn up a $15 billion plan for artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres in Finland, sparking a new international controversy. As news of the massive investment broke, US President Donald Trump openly expressed his displeasure. Trump said Google had chosen a foreign country over the United States, and demanded that the company reconsider its decision immediately.

Donald Trump wrote a sharply worded post on his social media platform Truth Social. He wrote that obtaining government permits in the United States was becoming a very difficult and complicated process, and that this was the reason Google had cited for announcing a large plant in Finland. Trump said he did not like this at all and that Google should immediately change its decision. In the same post, he repeated his demand that American companies invest their money within the country.

Speaking about the future of AI, Trump also stressed the importance of data centres. According to him, AI technology and data centres will prove to be the biggest engine of economic growth in human history. He said this sector would bring economic progress on a scale far greater than oil, gold, diamonds or even the internet revolution. He also took aim at regulations that hinder the growth of the technology sector in the United States. He said that during his term, no force or government red tape trying to stop the spectacular growth of the AI sector would be allowed to succeed, and that building infrastructure within the country in this sector was essential for the US to maintain its global lead.

Google announced last week that it would spend at least $15 billion (about Rs 1.25 lakh crore) to expand its digital architecture and AI capabilities in Finland. This is being seen as Google's largest single capital investment in Europe to date. Google has operated a large facility since 2009 in Hamina on Finland's southern coast, built on the site of an old paper mill. Under the new investment, Google will build new data centres there and set up the digital infrastructure needed for global platforms such as Gemini, Google Search, Google Maps and YouTube. Grid improvements to boost energy efficiency and the installation of modern battery storage technology are also planned.

Google's heavy investment is set to directly and significantly benefit Finland's economy. The initial construction and infrastructure phase of the project is expected to create more than 37,000 direct and indirect jobs in Finland. Once the data centre becomes fully operational, at least 7,000 permanent jobs are expected to remain for long-term operations. To secure the electricity supply the project needs, Google has signed power purchase agreements with wind energy suppliers in Finland, and also signed a 22-year nuclear energy agreement with a local power company, described as historic. This is why the project is seen as a major diplomatic and economic win for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, while the world now watches to see whether Google changes its decision under Trump's pressure or continues its work in Finland.