The State of Relations between the United States and the European UnionHello Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the pleasure of speaking to you today today of the unfortunately precarious situation between the United States and Europe. As you all know, hegemonic power shifted between European nations for centuries, while the United States only became such an influential entity after World War II. Since these years of postwar reconstruction, the United States has continued to grow in social, economic, political, and diplomatic strength, cementing its role as a major international power. Although Europe emerged bruised from the war, it rose from its ashes and surpassed its former glory to open a new chapter in its historical saga. After Europe got back on its feet, the European Union was created, undoubtedly a great modern achievement. The United States and the EU have achieved high levels of development and stability that have led them to assume both regional and global leadership roles. Representatives from both organizations work side by side to develop and implement policies within organizations such as the UN and the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Unfortunately, this rosy picture of harmonious relationships is more than a little idealistic. To say that there have not been periods of tension and conflict between the US and the EU would obviously be inaccurate. To even say that the days of friction and discord are over would be a mistake, as certain issues continue to strain US-EU relations. In order to detail the "why" of the current state of US-EU relations, I will first talk about how past and present conflicts and policy failures have been caused by fundamentals. .... middle of paper.... ..the alliance has been an essential component of the international system over the past five decades… [but] the transatlantic relationship is now under strain… Transatlantic cooperation will remain essential for address the regional and increasingly global challenges likely to be central in the 21st century… Despite the forces that separate the two sides of the Atlantic, the United States and Europe still have compatible interests and complementary capabilities …[and] virtually all the goals Americans and Europeans seek will be easier to achieve if they work together. together…”15Thank you very much for allowing me to speak today about the Atlantic Rift and the state of US-EU relations. I hope to see you all again, as the United States and the European Union overcome their differences and continue to come together at the global negotiating table..