Q – We had an interesting discussion over dinner last night in Las Cruces. Wish you could have been there. It had to do with the way that Americans are currently viewed in terms of friendship and our relationships within Europe. Over Osso Buco, most of us took the position that the Second World War was not that long ago and Europeans still consider us friends and Allies. I just don’t believe that has changed that much. My friends, Ralphie and Peter, disagreed, and they are putting off any immediate travel to Europe because they feel like we are no longer viewed as “Allies” in places like France, Germany, Italy, and England.
Sure, there are ups and downs, but I still gotta believe that the Europeans know we will come to their aid just as we did in the very recent past. Is there any way to factually look at this to prove them wrong? If we can, I think we can get them to pick up the tab during our next dinner together.
A – We are first trying to get over the fact that you were enjoying Osso Buco in Las Cruces. Great to hear, but we are afraid that Ralphie and Peter have a free dinner coming. The European Council on Foreign Relations issued a report earlier this year that showed that only 11% of Europeans across 15 European countries view the United States as a supportive Ally. That is a historic low down from 22% in 2024. So yes, it appears that European memories are, indeed, short. Or, perhaps, they follow US news reporting more closely than we imagine.
Despite this disheartening statistic, there is still very little evidence that the residents of Europe who interact with visitors from the United States are anything but polite. It is true, however, that they are increasingly seeking to vacation in places where we’re not.
