As Mexico, Canada, and the United States chart North America's next bold chapter in regional competitiveness, the three countries are rekindling the foundational pillars that forged the world's most powerful economic partnership three decades ago. The vision that drove the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) –of a deeply integrated, highly competitive region that could outperform any other economic bloc— has been validated by remarkable results: North America today represents nearly 35% of global GDP despite having only 7% of the world's population.

This success is gaining momentum with fresh urgency and purpose. While the original pillars of manufacturing, agriculture, and services remain vital –supporting over 50 million of the overall 240 million jobs across the three countries– North America must now turn its attention to the new drivers of 21st-century competitiveness. The region's competitive advantage in the digital era hinges upon the robustness and strategic integration of digital infrastructure and cloud services, much as transportation and telecommunications infrastructure defined North American integration in the early nineties.

The stakes in this digital transformation are immense: the global public cloud services market reached $572.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2026. This digital revolution is already showing concrete economic impact across the region. In Mexico, for example, cloud-enabled artificial intelligence alone added $14.25 billion to GDP in 2023, while these technologies are projected to contribute $707 billion to Latin America's GDP by 2030.2

In today's digital economy, this infrastructure has become the bedrock of competitiveness, serving as the essential foundation upon which all modern technological advances are built. From artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to advanced manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, and breakthrough innovations in biotechnology, every transformative technology that defines modern economic leadership depends on robust and secure computing capabilities. Much like electricity powered the industrial revolution, digital infrastructure has become the not so visible yet indispensable force driving innovation, determining which regions will lead in an increasingly technology-dependent world.

A recent Strand Partners’ study Unlocking Mexico’s AI Adoption in 2025, illustrates both progress and untapped potential in this digital transformation: 38% of Mexican businesses have adopted AI technologies, with 83% of these reporting increased revenue averaging 16% growth. Furthermore, 88% have seen significant productivity improvements. However, only 3% are using advanced AI capabilities, indicating substantial room for growth through enhanced infrastructure development.

As Mexico, Canada and the United States seek to maintain their technological edge, the security of digital infrastructure has become paramount for both national security and economic prosperity. The North American region collectively enjoys a distinct advantage, as local operations are held to rigorous security standards and subjected to extensive compliance and oversight. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) certification ensures services meet stringent

U.S. government security requirements, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frameworks provide comprehensive security guidelines that have become global standards. Together, these frameworks enable consistent security controls, risk management, and data protection across the region.

From a national security perspective, this secure infrastructure is essential for protecting sensitive data and critical systems across North America. Data sovereignty and protection ensure each country's control over sensitive government and industrial data while protecting intellectual property and maintaining citizen privacy. The security of critical infrastructure, including healthcare, and financial systems, depends increasingly on robust computing capabilities that can withstand sophisticated threats.

——

The analysis and recommendations presented in this paper reflect the author’s personal perspectives as a fellow at the US-Mexico Foundation and do not represent the view of any organization.

2 Cloud Services Market Size, Share and Trends 2025 to 2034, Precedent Research, https://www.precedenceresearch.com/cloud- services-market