A reader, Eric Jansson, responds to a recent survey indicating that only one in 10 Europeans now view the United States as an ally. The survey, reported on 10 June, aligns with the sentiments of US citizens themselves, according to a Pew Research Center poll. That poll found that only 2% of Americans trust the US government 'just about always,' and just 15% trust it 'most of the time' — a sharp decline from 73% in 1958.
Common Ground Across the Atlantic
Jansson suggests that Europeans and Americans can rest easy knowing they remain natural allies, despite their governments. He emphasizes the importance of not conflating the people of a country with those who govern it, a principle that applies to Washington, Brussels, London, Moscow, Beijing, Kinshasa, and beyond.
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