Is the West Stifling Huawei’s Global Ambitions? Geopolitical Barriers Cloaked as Security Concerns? Huawei, China’s telecom giant, faces significant Western resistance in deploying its 5G and allied products globally, driven by bans in the U.S., EU, and allies like Australia and Canada. Despite leading in 5G patents and infrastructure, Huawei has been excluded from key markets over alleged espionage risks and ties to China’s government. U.S. Entity List restrictions since 2019 limit access to critical chips and software, while the EU’s “de-risking” policies curb Huawei’s 5G equipment use. These barriers, blending security concerns with economic protectionism, aim to protect Western firms like Nokia and Ericsson and counter China’s tech dominance. Huawei’s domestic success, with 30% of China’s 5G market, and expansion in Belt and Road countries highlight resilience. This note examines Huawei’s market performance, security record, international adoption, and the balance between...