The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe

State Department substack ^ | May 27, 2025 | Samuel Samson

[chajin]

The close relationship between the United States and Europe transcends geographic proximity and transactional politics. It represents a unique bond forged in common culture, faith, familial ties, mutual assistance in times of strife, and above all, a shared Western civilizational heritage.

Our transatlantic partnership is underpinned by a rich Western tradition of natural law, virtue ethics, and national sovereignty. This tradition flows from Athens and Rome, through medieval Christianity, to English common law, and ultimately into America's founding documents. The Declaration's revolutionary assertion that men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” echoes the thought of Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and other European heavyweights who recognized that all men possess natural rights that no government can arbitrate or deny. America remains indebted to Europe for this intellectual and cultural legacy.

This connection between Europe and the United States is also the reason we speak honestly when we disagree or have concerns—and is why the Trump Administration is sounding the alarm in Europe. When Vice President Vance addressed this year’s Munich Security Conference, he made the reason clear, stating: “What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values—values shared with the United States of America.”

[chajin]

Just heard this on Glenn Beck, had to read it myself; it is AMAZING

[MinorityRepublican]

Europe was not free during WWI and WWII. Technically, Western Europe had some freedom after WWII but thats only because we've imposed it on them.

So it's a stretch to say that we have "shared values".

[Wallace T.]

America does have historic ties with Europe, especially England. However, we are fortunate that the Founding Fathers crafted a system of governance that makes it more difficult to impose the sort of authoritarianism we see in Britain, France, and Germany today. Our system is far from perfect and the hacks that were done in the 1910s, such as eliminating the power of state legislatures to select U.S. Senators, the imposition of an income tax, and the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, greatly expanded Federal reach, which Presidents from FDR through Biden have exploited.

[MinorityRepublican]

such as eliminating the power of state legislatures to select U.S. Senators

The problem with that was corruption.

An example of that would be Governor Rod R. Blagojevich trying to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

So that's why the Progressives wanted to reform by allowing the direct election of the U.S. Senators.

I wouldn't want Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan to pick my state's Senator.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

It represents a unique bond forged in common culture, faith, familial ties, mutual assistance in times of strife,

For a period of about 60 or 70 years, yes. That was the case. Prior to 1910, no, it was not the case. And now, its not so much the case anymore either. We are living in a Cold War relic museum that no longer operates to our benefit. Does that mean that we just cut Europe loose and become their rivals? No. That would be worse. But it doesn't mean we keep doing what we're doing under some illusion that we have "timeless shared values."

[Salman]

See my tagline.

[bobbo666]

And, if you voluntarily import savages that refuse to assimilate — that is like letting rabid dogs into your house to sleep with your kiddies.
No alliance with such stupidity.

[Dick Bachert]

DUUUUHHHHH?!