The Race for AI Sovereignty: Anthropic Export Controls and Global Competition

In a surprising turn of events last week, Anthropic export controls brought an abstract policy concern to life. On June 13, 2026, a US government directive unexpectedly deactivated the company’s two most powerful AI models, impacting users globally, including Anthropic’s foreign-born employees. This action raised concerns in Europe and Canada regarding the true control over the AI that powers the world.

The speed at which the mechanics unfolded was startling, leading to an even more pronounced reaction overseas.

Launch to lockdown in four days

On June 9, 2026, Anthropic introduced Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 to the public, representing a model class that the company had been developing under controlled access since April through Project Glasswing. Fable 5 was positioned as a Mythos-class model suitable for general use, excelling in various benchmarks, including software engineering, scientific research, and autonomous work.

Four days later, the more advanced Mythos 5, reserved for Glasswing partners and selected biology researchers, was suddenly inaccessible. Anthropic received an export control directive to suspend access to both models, with the specific security concern not detailed in the letter.

Due to the inability to filter users by nationality in real-time, Anthropic had to abruptly disable access for all customers to comply with the order issued by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The jailbreak at the center of it

Washington highlighted national security risks, particularly a “jailbreaking” method for Fable 5, which Anthropic contested as a limited capability to review program code and identify errors, a function also available in rival models like OpenAI’s GPT-5.5.

David Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, stated that Anthropic was asked to address the vulnerability or remove the model from deployment, a request that was reportedly denied by CEO Dario Amodei. Sacks emphasized the discrepancy in perspectives regarding the severity of the issue.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy influenced the decision, citing concerns about potential cyberattacks facilitated by Fable 5 prompts. Amazon, a major investor in Anthropic, declined to provide specific details but acknowledged government consultations on security risks.

A fight that started months before

The conflict traces back to an earlier dispute when Anthropic refused the use of its technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems, leading to backlash from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. President Trump’s directive to cease federal agency usage of Anthropic’s technology escalated the situation, designating the company as a “Supply-Chain Risk to National Security,” a classification typically reserved for foreign adversaries.

Anthropic’s lawsuit against the blacklisting warned of potential revenue losses, portraying a contradictory image of being deemed too risky for both US and foreign utilization.

The export controls heard around the world

Internationally, the response transcended the technical debate and underscored a concerning reality: a foreign government had effectively disabled a vital tool used in companies, research institutions, and public services globally with a single directive.

The European Commission acknowledged the situation and emphasized the need to address serious cybersecurity concerns associated with advanced AI models while ensuring non-discriminatory measures against partners. European politicians expressed concerns about Europe’s dependency on externally controlled technologies.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the risks of overreliance on American providers, advocating for diversification to mitigate vulnerabilities. The incident prompted discussions on AI’s role at the G7 summit and emphasized the need for deeper investments in domestic AI industries.

What happens next

Anthropic remains steadfast in its stance, arguing that industry-wide application of the current standard would impede new model deployments. The path to reinstatement involves obtaining licenses from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, with penalties for non-compliance.

David Sacks outlined a clear path for Anthropic to regain control by addressing the identified vulnerabilities. The global community has recognized that access to advanced AI models is not solely a commercial matter but a question of jurisdictional control.

See also: Anthropic IPO filing marks AI maturing into enterprise utility

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