diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7440f30..1fffc18 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -99,28 +99,6 @@
 export Q ECHO
 
 ################################################################################
-# Toolchain
-################################################################################
-
-HOSTCC			:=	gcc
-export HOSTCC
-
-CC			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc
-CPP			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc -E
-AS			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc
-AR			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc-ar
-LINKER			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}ld
-OC			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}objcopy
-OD			:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}objdump
-DTC			:=	dtc
-
-# Use ${LD}.bfd instead if it exists (as absolute path or together with $PATH).
-ifneq ($(strip $(wildcard ${LD}.bfd) \
-	$(foreach dir,$(subst :, ,${PATH}),$(wildcard ${dir}/${LINKER}.bfd))),)
-LINKER			:=	${LINKER}.bfd
-endif
-
-################################################################################
 # Auxiliary tools (fiptool, cert_create, etc)
 ################################################################################
 
@@ -166,35 +144,22 @@
 ################################################################################
 arch-features		=	${ARM_ARCH_FEATURE}
 
-ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
-	ifneq ($(findstring armclang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
+	ifneq ($(findstring armclang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
 		TF_CFLAGS_aarch32	:=	-target arm-arm-none-eabi
 		TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	:=	-target aarch64-arm-none-eabi
-		LD			:=	$(LINKER)
 	else
 		TF_CFLAGS_aarch32	=	$(target32-directive)
 		TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	:=	-target aarch64-elf
-		LD			:=	$(shell $(CC) --print-prog-name ld.lld)
-
-		AR			:=	$(shell $(CC) --print-prog-name llvm-ar)
-		OD			:=	$(shell $(CC) --print-prog-name llvm-objdump)
-		OC			:=	$(shell $(CC) --print-prog-name llvm-objcopy)
 	endif
 
-	CPP		:=	$(CC) -E $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH))
-	AS		:=	$(CC) -c -x assembler-with-cpp $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH))
-else ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
 	ifeq ($(ENABLE_LTO),1)
 		# Enable LTO only for aarch64
 		ifeq (${ARCH},aarch64)
 			LTO_CFLAGS	=	-flto
-			# Use gcc as a wrapper for the ld, recommended for LTO
-			LINKER		:=	${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc
 		endif
 	endif
-	LD			=	$(LINKER)
-else
-	LD			=	$(LINKER)
 endif #(clang)
 
 # Process Debug flag
@@ -291,7 +256,7 @@
 endif #(W)
 
 # Compiler specific warnings
-ifeq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+ifeq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
 # not using clang
 WARNINGS	+=		-Wunused-but-set-variable -Wmaybe-uninitialized	\
 				-Wpacked-bitfield-compat -Wshift-overflow=2 \
@@ -335,18 +300,18 @@
 				-fsanitize-undefined-trap-on-error
 endif #(${SANITIZE_UB},trap)
 
-GCC_V_OUTPUT		:=	$(shell $(CC) -v 2>&1)
+GCC_V_OUTPUT		:=	$(shell $($(ARCH)-cc) -v 2>&1)
 
 TF_LDFLAGS		+=	-z noexecstack
 
 # LD = armlink
-ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 	TF_LDFLAGS		+=	--diag_error=warning --lto_level=O1
 	TF_LDFLAGS		+=	--remove --info=unused,unusedsymbols
 	TF_LDFLAGS		+=	$(TF_LDFLAGS_$(ARCH))
 
 # LD = gcc (used when GCC LTO is enabled)
-else ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 	# Pass ld options with Wl or Xlinker switches
 	TF_LDFLAGS		+=	$(call ld_option,-Xlinker --no-warn-rwx-segments)
 	TF_LDFLAGS		+=	-Wl,--fatal-warnings -O1
@@ -388,7 +353,7 @@
 # therefore don't add those in that case.
 # ld.lld reports section type mismatch warnings,
 # therefore don't add --fatal-warnings to it.
-	ifeq ($(findstring ld.lld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+	ifeq ($(findstring ld.lld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 		TF_LDFLAGS	+=	$(TF_LDFLAGS_$(ARCH)) --fatal-warnings
 	endif
 
@@ -420,7 +385,7 @@
 				plat/common/${ARCH}/platform_helpers.S	\
 				${COMPILER_RT_SRCS}
 
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
 	BL_COMMON_SOURCES	+=	lib/${ARCH}/armclang_printf.S
 endif
 
@@ -601,14 +566,14 @@
 ifeq (${SUPPORT_STACK_MEMTAG},yes)
     ifdef mem_tag_arch_support
         # Check for armclang and clang compilers
-        ifneq ( ,$(filter $(notdir $(CC)),armclang clang))
+        ifneq ( ,$(filter $(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang clang))
         # Add "memtag" architecture feature modifier if not specified
             ifeq ( ,$(findstring memtag,$(arch-features)))
                 arch-features	:=	$(arch-features)+memtag
             endif	# memtag
-            ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+            ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
                 TF_CFLAGS	+=	-mmemtag-stack
-            else ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),clang)
+            else ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),clang)
                 TF_CFLAGS	+=	-fsanitize=memtag
             endif	# armclang
         endif
@@ -722,12 +687,12 @@
 PIE_FOUND		:=	$(findstring --enable-default-pie,${GCC_V_OUTPUT})
 ifneq ($(PIE_FOUND),)
 	TF_CFLAGS	+=	-fno-PIE
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 	TF_LDFLAGS	+=	-no-pie
 endif
 endif #(PIE_FOUND)
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 	PIE_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,-pie -Wl,--no-dynamic-linker
 else
 	PIE_LDFLAGS	+=	-pie --no-dynamic-linker
@@ -1452,7 +1417,7 @@
         $(eval $(call add_define,DYN_DISABLE_AUTH))
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         $(eval $(call add_define,USE_ARM_LINK))
 endif
 
@@ -1484,7 +1449,7 @@
 
 ifeq (${ERROR_DEPRECATED},0)
 # Check if deprecated declarations and cpp warnings should be treated as error or not.
-ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     CPPFLAGS		+= 	-Wno-error=deprecated-declarations
 else
     CPPFLAGS		+= 	-Wno-error=deprecated-declarations -Wno-error=cpp
diff --git a/bl1/bl1.mk b/bl1/bl1.mk
index 53946ab..d118317 100644
--- a/bl1/bl1.mk
+++ b/bl1/bl1.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@
 BL1_SOURCES		+=	lib/pmf/pmf_main.c
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL1_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL1_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/bl2/bl2.mk b/bl2/bl2.mk
index b70a3fb..0a0a8b9 100644
--- a/bl2/bl2.mk
+++ b/bl2/bl2.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 BL2_SOURCES		+=	common/aarch64/early_exceptions.S
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL2_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL2_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/bl2u/bl2u.mk b/bl2u/bl2u.mk
index 9fe20f5..d7601bb 100644
--- a/bl2u/bl2u.mk
+++ b/bl2u/bl2u.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2015-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2015-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
 
 BL2U_DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCE := bl2u/bl2u.ld.S
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL2U_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL2U_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
diff --git a/bl31/bl31.mk b/bl31/bl31.mk
index 9959a3e..fa6f058 100644
--- a/bl31/bl31.mk
+++ b/bl31/bl31.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@
 
 BL31_DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCE := bl31/bl31.ld.S
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL31_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL31_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/bl32/sp_min/sp_min.mk b/bl32/sp_min/sp_min.mk
index 065468c..baf68cb 100644
--- a/bl32/sp_min/sp_min.mk
+++ b/bl32/sp_min/sp_min.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2016-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2016-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@
 
 BL32_DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCE := bl32/sp_min/sp_min.ld.S
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL32_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL32_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/bl32/tsp/tsp.mk b/bl32/tsp/tsp.mk
index 4c18131..06efe84 100644
--- a/bl32/tsp/tsp.mk
+++ b/bl32/tsp/tsp.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
 
 BL32_DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCE := bl32/tsp/tsp.ld.S
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL32_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         BL32_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/lib/romlib/Makefile b/lib/romlib/Makefile
index 1ae9095..f11e577 100644
--- a/lib/romlib/Makefile
+++ b/lib/romlib/Makefile
@@ -8,11 +8,6 @@
 
 include ../../make_helpers/toolchain.mk
 
-AS          = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
-AR          = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc-ar
-LD          = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ld
-OC          = $(CROSS_COMPILE)objcopy
-CPP         = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc -E
 ROMLIB_GEN  = ./romlib_generator.py
 BUILD_DIR   = $(BUILD_PLAT)/romlib
 LIB_DIR     = $(BUILD_PLAT)/lib
@@ -52,23 +47,23 @@
 
 %.o: %.s
 	@echo "  AS      $@"
-	$(Q)$(AS) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-as) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%.o: %.s
 	@echo "  AS      $@"
-	$(Q)$(AS) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-as) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld: romlib.ld.S
 	@echo "  PP      $@"
-	$(Q)$(CPP) $(PPFLAGS) -o $@ romlib.ld.S
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-cpp) -E $(PPFLAGS) -o $@ romlib.ld.S
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf: $(OBJS) $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld
 	@echo "  LD      $@"
-	$(Q)$(LD) -T $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld -L$(LIB_DIR) $(LDFLAGS) -o $@ $(OBJS) $(LIBS)
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-ld) -T $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld -L$(LIB_DIR) $(LDFLAGS) -o $@ $(OBJS) $(LIBS)
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.bin: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf
 	@echo "  BIN     $@"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O binary $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf $@
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-oc) -O binary $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf $@
 
 $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.s: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf
 	@echo "  VAR     $@"
@@ -76,7 +71,7 @@
 
 $(LIB_DIR)/libwrappers.a: $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS)
 	@echo "  AR      $@"
-	$(Q)$(AR) -rc $@ $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS)
+	$(Q)$(aarch64-ar) -rc $@ $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS)
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i: ../../$(PLAT_DIR)/jmptbl.i
 	@echo "  PRE     $@"
diff --git a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
index 6edc2d6..7a780f8 100644
--- a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
@@ -113,12 +113,12 @@
 
 # Convenience function to check for a given linker option. An call to
 # $(call ld_option, --no-XYZ) will return --no-XYZ if supported by the linker
-ld_option = $(shell $(LD) $(1) -Wl,--version >/dev/null 2>&1 || $(LD) $(1) -v >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo $(1))
+ld_option = $(shell $($(ARCH)-ld) $(1) -Wl,--version >/dev/null 2>&1 || $($(ARCH)-ld) $(1) -v >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo $(1))
 
 # Convenience function to check for a given compiler option. A call to
 # $(call cc_option, --no-XYZ) will return --no-XYZ if supported by the compiler
 define cc_option
-	$(shell if $(CC) $(1) -c -x c /dev/null -o /dev/null >/dev/null 2>&1; then echo $(1); fi )
+	$(shell if $($(ARCH)-cc) $(1) -c -x c /dev/null -o /dev/null >/dev/null 2>&1; then echo $(1); fi )
 endef
 
 # CREATE_SEQ is a recursive function to create sequence of numbers from 1 to
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | lib$(3)_dirs
 	$$(ECHO) "  CC      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(CC) $$($(LIB)_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-cc) $$($(LIB)_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 -include $(DEP)
 
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | lib$(3)_dirs
 	$$(ECHO) "  AS      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(AS) $$(ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-as) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 -include $(DEP)
 
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
 	$$(ECHO) "  CC      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(CC) $$(LTO_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-cc) $$(LTO_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 -include $(DEP)
 
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
 	$$(ECHO) "  AS      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(AS) $$(ASFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-as) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(ASFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 -include $(DEP)
 
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@
 
 $(1): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
 	$$(ECHO) "  PP      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(CPP) $$(CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) -P -x assembler-with-cpp -D__LINKER__ $(MAKE_DEP) -o $$@ $$<
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-cpp) -E $$(CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) -P -x assembler-with-cpp -D__LINKER__ $(MAKE_DEP) -o $$@ $$<
 
 -include $(DEP)
 
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@
 
 ${LIB_DIR}/lib$(1).a: $(OBJS)
 	$$(ECHO) "  AR      $$@"
-	$$(Q)$$(AR) cr $$@ $$?
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-ar) cr $$@ $$?
 endef
 
 # Generate the path to one or more preprocessed linker scripts given the paths
@@ -573,22 +573,22 @@
 	@echo 'const char build_message[] = "Built : "$(BUILD_MESSAGE_TIMESTAMP); \
 	       const char version_string[] = "${VERSION_STRING}"; \
 	       const char version[] = "${VERSION}";' | \
-		$$(CC) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) -xc -c - -o $(BUILD_DIR)/build_message.o
+		$($(ARCH)-cc) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) -xc -c - -o $(BUILD_DIR)/build_message.o
 endif
 ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $(LD))),)
-	$$(Q)$$(LD) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) --entry=${1}_entrypoint \
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) --entry=${1}_entrypoint \
 		--predefine="-D__LINKER__=$(__LINKER__)" \
 		--predefine="-DTF_CFLAGS=$(TF_CFLAGS)" \
 		--map --list="$(MAPFILE)" --scatter=${PLAT_DIR}/scat/${1}.scat \
 		$(LDPATHS) $(LIBWRAPPER) $(LDLIBS) $(BL_LIBS) \
 		$(BUILD_DIR)/build_message.o $(OBJS)
 else ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
-	$$(Q)$$(LD) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE) \
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE) \
 		$(addprefix -Wl$(comma)--script$(comma),$(LINKER_SCRIPTS)) -Wl,--script,$(DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT) \
 		$(BUILD_DIR)/build_message.o \
 		$(OBJS) $(LDPATHS) $(LIBWRAPPER) $(LDLIBS) $(BL_LIBS)
 else
-	$$(Q)$$(LD) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) -Map=$(MAPFILE) \
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) -Map=$(MAPFILE) \
 		$(addprefix -T ,$(LINKER_SCRIPTS)) --script $(DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT) \
 		$(BUILD_DIR)/build_message.o \
 		$(OBJS) $(LDPATHS) $(LIBWRAPPER) $(LDLIBS) $(BL_LIBS)
@@ -601,11 +601,11 @@
 
 $(DUMP): $(ELF)
 	$${ECHO} "  OD      $$@"
-	$${Q}$${OD} -dx $$< > $$@
+	$${Q}$($(ARCH)-od) -dx $$< > $$@
 
 $(BIN): $(ELF)
 	$${ECHO} "  BIN     $$@"
-	$$(Q)$$(OC) -O binary $$< $$@
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O binary $$< $$@
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $$@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
@@ -668,9 +668,9 @@
 $(DOBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | fdt_dirs
 	$${ECHO} "  CPP     $$<"
 	$(eval DTBS       := $(addprefix $(1)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_DTBS,$(2))))
-	$$(Q)$$(CPP) $$(DTC_CPPFLAGS) -MT $(DTBS) -MMD -MF $(DTSDEP) -o $(DPRE) $$<
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-cpp) -E $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(DTC_CPPFLAGS) -MT $(DTBS) -MMD -MF $(DTSDEP) -o $(DPRE) $$<
 	$${ECHO} "  DTC     $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(DTC) $$(DTC_FLAGS) -d $(DTBDEP) -o $$@ $(DPRE)
+	$$(Q)$($(ARCH)-dtc) $$(DTC_FLAGS) -d $(DTBDEP) -o $$@ $(DPRE)
 
 -include $(DTBDEP)
 -include $(DTSDEP)
diff --git a/make_helpers/march.mk b/make_helpers/march.mk
index 1b73969..9c42ae6 100644
--- a/make_helpers/march.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/march.mk
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # armv8.6-a armv8.7-a armv8.8-a armv8-r armv9-a
 # [...]
 #
-GCC_MARCH_OUTPUT := $(shell $(CC) -march=foo -Q --help=target -v 2>&1)
+GCC_MARCH_OUTPUT := $(shell $($(ARCH)-cc) -march=foo -Q --help=target -v 2>&1)
 
 # This function is used to find the best march value supported by the given compiler.
 # We try to use `GCC_MARCH_OUTPUT` which has verbose message with supported march values we filter that
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
     provided-march = armv${ARM_ARCH_MAJOR}.${ARM_ARCH_MINOR}-a
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+ifeq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
 
 # We expect from Platform to provide a correct Major/Minor value but expecting something
 # from compiler with unsupported march means we shouldn't fail without trying anything,
diff --git a/make_helpers/windows.mk b/make_helpers/windows.mk
index 980abf0..7ed8e84 100644
--- a/make_helpers/windows.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/windows.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2016-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2016-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@
 define MAKE_BUILD_STRINGS
 	$$(file >$1.in,$$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS))
 	@echo $$(BUILT_TIME_DATE_STRING) $$(VERSION_STRING_MESSAGE) $$(VERSION_MESSAGE) | \
-		$$(CC) @$1.in -x c -c - -o $1
+		$($(ARCH)-cc) @$1.in -x c -c - -o $1
 endef
 
 MSVC_NMAKE := nmake.exe
-
diff --git a/plat/amlogic/axg/platform.mk b/plat/amlogic/axg/platform.mk
index 3560b0c..e6a9b04 100644
--- a/plat/amlogic/axg/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/amlogic/axg/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2020, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 				${GIC_SOURCES}
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A53
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a53
@@ -92,4 +92,3 @@
 
 ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img: ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${DOIMAGETOOL}
 	${DOIMAGETOOL} ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img
-
diff --git a/plat/amlogic/g12a/platform.mk b/plat/amlogic/g12a/platform.mk
index b0c91b0..58ca732 100644
--- a/plat/amlogic/g12a/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/amlogic/g12a/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2019, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2019-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 				${GIC_SOURCES}
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A53
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a53
@@ -88,4 +88,3 @@
 
 ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img: ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${DOIMAGETOOL}
 	${DOIMAGETOOL} ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img
-
diff --git a/plat/amlogic/gxbb/platform.mk b/plat/amlogic/gxbb/platform.mk
index 62384d2..f1c1a9f 100644
--- a/plat/amlogic/gxbb/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/amlogic/gxbb/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2018-2019, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2018-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
 				${GIC_SOURCES}
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A53
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a53
diff --git a/plat/amlogic/gxl/platform.mk b/plat/amlogic/gxl/platform.mk
index 641d177..e8871cd 100644
--- a/plat/amlogic/gxl/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/amlogic/gxl/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2018-2019, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2018-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 				${GIC_SOURCES}
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A53
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a53
@@ -88,4 +88,3 @@
 
 ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img: ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${DOIMAGETOOL}
 	${DOIMAGETOOL} ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.bin ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.img
-
diff --git a/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/platform.mk b/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/platform.mk
index f44b37d..c9c248f 100644
--- a/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2021-2023, Arm Limited. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2024, Arm Limited. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -129,6 +129,6 @@
 
 bl31.axf: bl31 dtbs ${BUILD_PLAT}/rom_trampoline.o ${BUILD_PLAT}/kernel_trampoline.o ${BUILD_PLAT}/build_axf.ld
 	$(ECHO) "  LD      $@"
-	$(Q)$(LD) -T ${BUILD_PLAT}/build_axf.ld -L ${BUILD_PLAT} --strip-debug -s -n -o ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.axf
+	$(Q)$($(ARCH)-ld) -T ${BUILD_PLAT}/build_axf.ld -L ${BUILD_PLAT} --strip-debug -s -n -o ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31.axf
 
 all: bl31.axf
diff --git a/plat/nvidia/tegra/platform.mk b/plat/nvidia/tegra/platform.mk
index 2365564..0221b5e 100644
--- a/plat/nvidia/tegra/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/nvidia/tegra/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2015-2019, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2015-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 # Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 INCLUDES	+=	-Iinclude/lib/libc		\
 			-Iinclude/lib/libc/$(ARCH)	\
 
-ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring armlink,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
 # o suppress warnings for section mismatches, undefined symbols
 # o use only those libraries that are specified in the input file
 #   list to resolve references
diff --git a/plat/renesas/rcar/platform.mk b/plat/renesas/rcar/platform.mk
index c95590d..5718478 100644
--- a/plat/renesas/rcar/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/renesas/rcar/platform.mk
@@ -371,7 +371,6 @@
 .PHONY: rcar_srecord
 rcar_srecord: $(BL2_ELF_SRC) $(BL31_ELF_SRC)
 	@echo "generating srec: ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL2_ELF_SRC}  ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec
+	$(Q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL2_ELF_SRC}  ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec
 	@echo "generating srec: ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL31_ELF_SRC} ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec
-
+	$(Q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL31_ELF_SRC} ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec
diff --git a/plat/renesas/rzg/platform.mk b/plat/renesas/rzg/platform.mk
index f37d7d0..89ca227 100644
--- a/plat/renesas/rzg/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/renesas/rzg/platform.mk
@@ -269,6 +269,6 @@
 .PHONY: rzg_srecord
 rzg_srecord: $(BL2_ELF_SRC) $(BL31_ELF_SRC)
 	@echo "generating srec: ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL2_ELF_SRC}  ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec
+	$(Q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL2_ELF_SRC}  ${SREC_PATH}/bl2.srec
 	@echo "generating srec: ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL31_ELF_SRC} ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec
+	$(Q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O srec --srec-forceS3 ${BL31_ELF_SRC} ${SREC_PATH}/bl31.srec
diff --git a/plat/rockchip/rk3399/drivers/m0/Makefile b/plat/rockchip/rk3399/drivers/m0/Makefile
index 55f0a82..2abcc18 100644
--- a/plat/rockchip/rk3399/drivers/m0/Makefile
+++ b/plat/rockchip/rk3399/drivers/m0/Makefile
@@ -42,13 +42,6 @@
 ASFLAGS			:= -Wa,--gdwarf-2
 LDFLAGS			:= -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,--build-id=none
 
-# Cross tool
-CC			:= ${M0_CROSS_COMPILE}gcc
-CPP			:= ${M0_CROSS_COMPILE}gcc -E
-AR			:= ${M0_CROSS_COMPILE}gcc-ar
-OC			:= ${M0_CROSS_COMPILE}objcopy
-OD			:= ${M0_CROSS_COMPILE}objdump
-
 # NOTE: The line continuation '\' is required in the next define otherwise we
 # end up with a line-feed characer at the end of the last c filename.
 # Also bare this issue in mind if extending the list of supported filetypes.
@@ -79,7 +72,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ) : $(2)
 	@echo "  CC      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(CC) $$(COMMON_FLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $$(INCLUDES) -MMD -MT $$@ -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$(rk3399-m0-cc) $$(COMMON_FLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $$(INCLUDES) -MMD -MT $$@ -c $$< -o $$@
 endef
 
 define MAKE_S
@@ -87,7 +80,7 @@
 
 $(OBJ) : $(2)
 	@echo "  AS      $$<"
-	$$(Q)$$(CC) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(COMMON_FLAGS) $$(ASFLAGS) -c $$< -o $$@
+	$$(Q)$(rk3399-m0-cc) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(COMMON_FLAGS) $$(ASFLAGS) -c $$< -o $$@
 endef
 
 define MAKE_OBJS
@@ -108,20 +101,20 @@
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := all
 
 $(LINKERFILE): $(LINKERFILE_SRC)
-	$(CC) $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(INCLUDES) -P -E -D__LINKER__ -MMD -MF $@.d -MT $@ -o $@ $<
+	$(rk3399-m0-cc) $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(INCLUDES) -P -E -D__LINKER__ -MMD -MF $@.d -MT $@ -o $@ $<
 -include $(LINKERFILE).d
 
 $(ELF) : $(OBJS) $(OBJS_COMMON) $(LINKERFILE)
 	@echo "  LD      $@"
-	$(Q)$(CC) -o $@ $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE) -Wl,-T$(LINKERFILE) $(OBJS) $(OBJS_COMMON)
+	$(Q)$(rk3399-m0-cc) -o $@ $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE) -Wl,-T$(LINKERFILE) $(OBJS) $(OBJS_COMMON)
 
 %.bin : %.elf
 	@echo "  BIN     $@"
-	$(Q)$(OC) -O binary $< $@
+	$(Q)$(rk3399-m0-oc) -O binary $< $@
 
 $(ELF_PMU) : $(OBJS_COMMON) $(OBJS_PMU) $(LINKERFILE)
 	@echo "  LD      $@"
-	$(Q)$(CC) -o $@ $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE_PMU) -Wl,-T$(LINKERFILE) $(OBJS_PMU) $(OBJS_COMMON)
+	$(Q)$(rk3399-m0-cc) -o $@ $(COMMON_FLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) -Wl,-Map=$(MAPFILE_PMU) -Wl,-T$(LINKERFILE) $(OBJS_PMU) $(OBJS_COMMON)
 
 $(eval $(call MAKE_OBJS,$(BUILD),$(SOURCES_COMMON),$(1)))
 $(eval $(call MAKE_OBJS,$(BUILD),$(SOURCES),$(1)))
diff --git a/plat/rpi/rpi3/platform.mk b/plat/rpi/rpi3/platform.mk
index 06393e4..3af177c 100644
--- a/plat/rpi/rpi3/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/rpi/rpi3/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@
 				${LIBFDT_SRCS}
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A53
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a53
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a53
diff --git a/plat/rpi/rpi4/platform.mk b/plat/rpi/rpi4/platform.mk
index 528eb1d..0b5fef7 100644
--- a/plat/rpi/rpi4/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/rpi/rpi4/platform.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2021, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@
 COLD_BOOT_SINGLE_CPU	:=	0
 
 # Tune compiler for Cortex-A72
-ifeq ($(notdir $(CC)),armclang)
+ifeq ($(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc)),armclang)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a72
-else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $(CC))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring clang,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-cc))),)
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mcpu=cortex-a72
 else
     TF_CFLAGS_aarch64	+=	-mtune=cortex-a72
@@ -113,4 +113,3 @@
 ifeq ($(SMC_PCI_SUPPORT), 1)
 BL31_SOURCES            +=      plat/rpi/rpi4/rpi4_pci_svc.c
 endif
-
diff --git a/plat/st/common/common.mk b/plat/st/common/common.mk
index 7f93961..f49112d 100644
--- a/plat/st/common/common.mk
+++ b/plat/st/common/common.mk
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 STM32MP_UART_PROGRAMMER		?=	0
 STM32MP_USB_PROGRAMMER		?=	0
 
-$(eval DTC_V = $(shell $(DTC) -v | awk '{print $$NF}'))
+$(eval DTC_V = $(shell $($(ARCH)-dtc) -v | awk '{print $$NF}'))
 $(eval DTC_VERSION = $(shell printf "%d" $(shell echo ${DTC_V} | cut -d- -f1 | sed "s/\./0/g" | grep -o "[0-9]*")))
 DTC_CPPFLAGS			+=	${INCLUDES}
 DTC_FLAGS			+=	-Wno-unit_address_vs_reg
diff --git a/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk b/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
index f39caab..7f45bf2 100644
--- a/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
+++ b/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 
 ${BUILD_PLAT}/$(PLAT)-%.o: ${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl2.dtb $(STM32_BINARY_MAPPING) bl2
 	@echo "  AS      $${PLAT}.S"
-	${Q}${AS} ${ASFLAGS} ${TF_CFLAGS} \
+	${Q}$($(ARCH)-as) -x assembler-with-cpp $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) ${ASFLAGS} ${TF_CFLAGS} \
 		-DDTB_BIN_PATH=\"$<\" \
 		-c $(word 2,$^) -o $@
 
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@
 
 tf-a-%.elf: $(PLAT)-%.o ${STM32_TF_LINKERFILE}
 	@echo "  LDS     $<"
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
-	${Q}${LD} -o $@ $(subst --,-Wl$(comma)--,${STM32_TF_ELF_LDFLAGS}) -nostartfiles -Wl,-Map=$(@:.elf=.map) -Wl,-dT ${STM32_TF_LINKERFILE} $<
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
+	${Q}$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $@ $(subst --,-Wl$(comma)--,${STM32_TF_ELF_LDFLAGS}) -nostartfiles -Wl,-Map=$(@:.elf=.map) -Wl,-dT ${STM32_TF_LINKERFILE} $<
 else
-	${Q}${LD} -o $@ ${STM32_TF_ELF_LDFLAGS} -Map=$(@:.elf=.map) --script ${STM32_TF_LINKERFILE} $<
+	${Q}$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $@ ${STM32_TF_ELF_LDFLAGS} -Map=$(@:.elf=.map) --script ${STM32_TF_LINKERFILE} $<
 endif
 
 tf-a-%.bin: tf-a-%.elf
-	${Q}${OC} -O binary $< $@
+	${Q}$($(ARCH)-oc) -O binary $< $@
 	@echo
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@echo
diff --git a/plat/st/stm32mp1/cert_create_tbbr.mk b/plat/st/stm32mp1/cert_create_tbbr.mk
index 5b1a3ed..e747e39 100644
--- a/plat/st/stm32mp1/cert_create_tbbr.mk
+++ b/plat/st/stm32mp1/cert_create_tbbr.mk
@@ -11,9 +11,8 @@
 PLAT_INCLUDE	+= -I${PLAT_DIR}include
 
 src/stm32mp1_tbb_cert.o: ${PLAT_DIR}stm32mp1_tbb_cert.c
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
 
 PLAT_OBJECTS	= src/stm32mp1_tbb_cert.o
 
 OBJECTS		+= $(PLAT_OBJECTS)
-
diff --git a/services/std_svc/rmmd/trp/trp.mk b/services/std_svc/rmmd/trp/trp.mk
index b7bd317..467a4e2 100644
--- a/services/std_svc/rmmd/trp/trp.mk
+++ b/services/std_svc/rmmd/trp/trp.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2021-2023 Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 
 RMM_DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCE := services/std_svc/rmmd/trp/linker.ld.S
 
-ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+ifneq ($(findstring gcc,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         RMM_LDFLAGS	+=	-Wl,--sort-section=alignment
-else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $(LD))),)
+else ifneq ($(findstring ld,$(notdir $($(ARCH)-ld))),)
         RMM_LDFLAGS	+=	--sort-section=alignment
 endif
 
diff --git a/tools/amlogic/Makefile b/tools/amlogic/Makefile
index d6d464b..5ff26e5 100644
--- a/tools/amlogic/Makefile
+++ b/tools/amlogic/Makefile
@@ -30,22 +30,20 @@
   Q :=
 endif
 
-HOSTCC := gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean distclean
 
 all: ${PROJECT}
 
 ${PROJECT}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS} -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS} -o $@
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 %.o: %.c Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} $< -o $@
 
 clean:
 	$(call SHELL_DELETE_ALL, ${PROJECT} ${OBJECTS})
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/Makefile b/tools/cert_create/Makefile
index 4203405..21523f6 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/Makefile
+++ b/tools/cert_create/Makefile
@@ -84,8 +84,6 @@
 LIB_DIR := -L ${OPENSSL_DIR}/lib -L ${OPENSSL_DIR}
 LIB := -lssl -lcrypto
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean realclean --openssl
 
 all: --openssl ${BINARY}
@@ -94,12 +92,12 @@
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
 	@echo 'const char build_msg[] = "Built : "__TIME__", "__DATE__; \
                 const char platform_msg[] = "${PLAT_MSG}";' | \
-                ${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} -xc - -o src/build_msg.o
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} src/build_msg.o ${OBJECTS} ${LIB_DIR} ${LIB} -o $@
+                $(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} -xc - -o src/build_msg.o
+	${Q}$(host-cc) src/build_msg.o ${OBJECTS} ${LIB_DIR} ${LIB} -o $@
 
 %.o: %.c
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
 
 --openssl:
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),1)
diff --git a/tools/encrypt_fw/Makefile b/tools/encrypt_fw/Makefile
index b530cca..83f2f57 100644
--- a/tools/encrypt_fw/Makefile
+++ b/tools/encrypt_fw/Makefile
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@
 LIB_DIR := -L ${OPENSSL_DIR}/lib -L ${OPENSSL_DIR}
 LIB := -lssl -lcrypto
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean realclean --openssl
 
 all: --openssl ${BINARY}
@@ -72,12 +70,12 @@
 ${BINARY}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
 	@echo 'const char build_msg[] = "Built : "__TIME__", "__DATE__;' | \
-                ${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} -xc - -o src/build_msg.o
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} src/build_msg.o ${OBJECTS} ${LIB_DIR} ${LIB} -o $@
+                $(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} -xc - -o src/build_msg.o
+	${Q}$(host-cc) src/build_msg.o ${OBJECTS} ${LIB_DIR} ${LIB} -o $@
 
 %.o: %.c
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INC_DIR} $< -o $@
 
 --openssl:
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),1)
diff --git a/tools/fiptool/Makefile b/tools/fiptool/Makefile
index 3cb89c6..865ff4c 100644
--- a/tools/fiptool/Makefile
+++ b/tools/fiptool/Makefile
@@ -61,8 +61,6 @@
   Q :=
 endif
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
-
 ifneq (${PLAT},)
 TF_PLATFORM_ROOT	:=	../../plat/
 include ${MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY}plat_helpers.mk
@@ -84,14 +82,14 @@
 
 ${PROJECT}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS} -o $@ $(LDOPTS)
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS} -o $@ $(LDOPTS)
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 %.o: %.c Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} -MD -MP $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} -MD -MP $< -o $@
 
 -include $(DEPS)
 
diff --git a/tools/fiptool/plat_fiptool/st/stm32mp1/plat_fiptool.mk b/tools/fiptool/plat_fiptool/st/stm32mp1/plat_fiptool.mk
index 1ba47c1..0d69dbd 100644
--- a/tools/fiptool/plat_fiptool/st/stm32mp1/plat_fiptool.mk
+++ b/tools/fiptool/plat_fiptool/st/stm32mp1/plat_fiptool.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 HOSTCCFLAGS += -DPLAT_DEF_FIP_UUID
 
 ${PLAT_DEF_UUID_FILE_NAME}.o: plat_fiptool/st/stm32mp1/${PLAT_DEF_UUID_FILE_NAME}.c
-	${HOSTCC} -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
+	$(host-cc) -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
 
 PLAT_OBJECTS += ${PLAT_DEF_UUID_FILE_NAME}.o
 endif
diff --git a/tools/marvell/doimage/Makefile b/tools/marvell/doimage/Makefile
index 0766f59..6e59aa2 100644
--- a/tools/marvell/doimage/Makefile
+++ b/tools/marvell/doimage/Makefile
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 # could get pulled in from firmware tree.
 INCLUDE_PATHS = -I.
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
 RM := rm -rf
 
 .PHONY: all clean
@@ -38,14 +37,14 @@
 
 ${PROJECT}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS} ${DOIMAGE_LD_FLAGS} -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS} ${DOIMAGE_LD_FLAGS} -o $@
 	@echo
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@echo
 
 %.o: %.c Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
 
 clean:
 	${Q}${RM} ${PROJECT}
diff --git a/tools/nxp/create_pbl/Makefile b/tools/nxp/create_pbl/Makefile
index 61ba92f..b6b3b04 100644
--- a/tools/nxp/create_pbl/Makefile
+++ b/tools/nxp/create_pbl/Makefile
@@ -34,30 +34,27 @@
 
 INCLUDE_PATHS :=
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
-CC = gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean distclean
 
 all: create_pbl byte_swap
 
 ${PROJECT_1}: ${OBJECTS_1} Makefile
 	@echo "  LD      $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS_1} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS_1} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 ${PROJECT_2}: ${OBJECTS_2} Makefile
 	@echo "  LD      $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS_2} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS_2} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 %.o: %.c %.h Makefile
 	@echo "  CC      $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${CFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${CFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
 
 clean:
 	$(call SHELL_DELETE_ALL, ${PROJECT_1} ${OBJECTS_1})
diff --git a/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile b/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
index fefdb19..baa6e7e 100644
--- a/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
+++ b/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
@@ -71,16 +71,9 @@
 ###################################################
 
 #c compiler
-CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 CFLAGS += ${DEFINES}
 CFLAGS += -I../../include/lib/stdlib
 
-#Linker
-LD = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ld
-
-#objcopy
-objcopy = $(CROSS_COMPILE)objcopy
-
 #clean
 CL = rm -f
 
@@ -96,29 +89,29 @@
 # Linker
 ###################################################
 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) : $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)
-	$(LD) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)		 	\
+	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)		 	\
 	-T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0)			\
 	-o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)			\
 	-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA0).map 		\
 
-	$(objcopy) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
-	$(objcopy) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
 
 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) : $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)
-	$(LD) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)		 	\
+	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)		 	\
 	-T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6)			\
 	-o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)			\
 	-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA6).map 		\
 
-	$(objcopy) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
-	$(objcopy) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
 
 ###################################################
 # Compile
 ###################################################
 
 %.o: %.c
-	$(CC) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
+	$(aarch64-cc) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
diff --git a/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile b/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
index 9cab56f..4cab5fb 100644
--- a/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
+++ b/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
@@ -66,18 +66,11 @@
 ###################################################
 
 #c compiler
-CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 CFLAGS += ${DEFINES}
 CFLAGS += -nostdinc \
 	  -I../../../include/lib/libc \
 	  -I../../../include/lib/libc/aarch64
 
-#Linker
-LD = $(CROSS_COMPILE)ld
-
-#objcopy
-objcopy = $(CROSS_COMPILE)objcopy
-
 #clean
 CL = rm -f
 
@@ -93,29 +86,29 @@
 # Linker
 ###################################################
 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) : $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)
-	$(LD) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)		 	\
+	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)		 	\
 	-T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0)			\
 	-o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)			\
 	-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA0).map 		\
 
-	$(objcopy) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
-	$(objcopy) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
 
 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) : $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)
-	$(LD) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)		 	\
+	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)		 	\
 	-T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6)			\
 	-o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)			\
 	-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA6).map 		\
 
-	$(objcopy) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
-	$(objcopy) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
+	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3  $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
 
 ###################################################
 # Compile
 ###################################################
 
 %.o: %.c
-	$(CC) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
+	$(aarch64-cc) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
diff --git a/tools/sptool/Makefile b/tools/sptool/Makefile
index 5dbcbad..a913ce5 100644
--- a/tools/sptool/Makefile
+++ b/tools/sptool/Makefile
@@ -32,22 +32,20 @@
 
 INCLUDE_PATHS := -I../../include/tools_share
 
-HOSTCC ?= gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean distclean
 
 all: ${PROJECT}
 
 ${PROJECT}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS} -o $@ ${LDLIBS}
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 %.o: %.c Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${CPPFLAGS} ${HOSTCCFLAGS} ${INCLUDE_PATHS} $< -o $@
 
 clean:
 	$(call SHELL_DELETE_ALL, ${PROJECT} ${OBJECTS})
diff --git a/tools/stm32image/Makefile b/tools/stm32image/Makefile
index 9dfe9cb..c75e941 100644
--- a/tools/stm32image/Makefile
+++ b/tools/stm32image/Makefile
@@ -29,22 +29,20 @@
   Q :=
 endif
 
-HOSTCC := gcc
-
 .PHONY: all clean distclean
 
 all: ${PROJECT}
 
 ${PROJECT}: ${OBJECTS} Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTLD  $@"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} ${OBJECTS} -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) ${OBJECTS} -o $@
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 	@echo "Built $@ successfully"
 	@${ECHO_BLANK_LINE}
 
 %.o: %.c Makefile
 	@echo "  HOSTCC  $<"
-	${Q}${HOSTCC} -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} $< -o $@
+	${Q}$(host-cc) -c ${HOSTCCFLAGS} $< -o $@
 
 clean:
 	$(call SHELL_DELETE_ALL, ${PROJECT} ${OBJECTS})