[theptip]

It does seem like the USG should fund a few $10B to build out the alternative stack, given the strategic sensitivity. Best time to have started would have been 20y ago, second best is today.

This is small change in the military budget.

[mandevil]

The US Government made ASML dominant when it allowed it to acquire (US Company) Cymer, Inc.- the company that was best in the world at the time at EUV. Merging Cymer's EUV work with ASML's meticulous perfection and delivery of the entire rest of the system is what made them the only vendor that matters for semiconductor manufacturers.

This acquisition is also what gives the US Government the ability to veto customers of ASML even today- this is why Chinese semiconductor manufacturing is so far behind, because the USG controls who can access ASML's EUV work.

[theptip]

TIL! I had assumed that veto was purely diplomatic muscle.

That seems like a potentially very cunning soft takeover, in that case.

Still, I think onshoring is strategically wise in a world where the US is actively antagonizing the EU.

[ericmay]

Why would the US need to fund and build out an alternative stack? ASML is de facto controlled by the United States.

Of course, having competitors is probably a good thing...