Meta expands Llama AI access to U.S. allies in Europe and Asia
Meta Platforms is broadening access to its Llama artificial intelligence system, extending availability to U.S. allies in Europe and Asia just a day after federal approval for government use.
Expanding to Allies
According to a company blog post, Meta’s large language model (LLM) will now be accessible to France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and South Korea, along with NATO and European Union institutions. The expansion follows the U.S. government’s green light to include Llama in its list of approved AI tools for federal agencies.
Llama is a multimodal system, capable of processing text, video, images, and audio, making it a versatile tool for governments, enterprises, and developers.
Partnering With Tech Giants
To deliver Llama-based solutions, Meta is working with major technology partners including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle, and Palantir. These companies will help integrate the model into infrastructure and workflows across participating nations and institutions.
A Strategic Move
Unlike some competitors, Meta has released its Llama models largely free of charge, allowing developers to build applications without prohibitive licensing costs. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has argued that this open-access approach will ultimately benefit Meta by fueling innovation, reducing reliance on rivals, and increasing engagement across its core platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
U.S. Government Adoption
On Monday, Josh Gruenbaum, procurement lead for the General Services Administration (GSA), confirmed that Llama will be added to the official catalog of approved AI tools for U.S. federal agencies. The move underscores growing government interest in adopting generative AI systems while maintaining oversight and security standards.
The Bigger Picture
By extending Llama’s reach to trusted allies and institutions, Meta is not only strengthening international collaboration around AI but also positioning itself as a key player in the race to shape global AI adoption. The move could help cement Llama’s role as a widely deployed, developer-friendly alternative to more tightly controlled proprietary models.
